Johnny Cope

(This is the traditional version, as authored by Adam Skivring in 1745; many other versions of this popular Jacobite song exist)


 * Cope sent a challenge frae Dunbar,
 * Sayin Charlie meet me an' ye daur;
 * An' I'll learn ye the art o' war,
 * If ye'll meet me in the morning.


 * Hey! Johnny Cope, are ye a-waukin' yet?
 * Or are your drums a-beating yet?
 * If ye were waukin' I wad wait,
 * Tae gang tae the coals in the morning.


 * When Charlie looked the letter upon,
 * He drew his sword the scabbard from
 * Come, follow me my merry men,
 * And we'll meet Johnny Cope in the morning.


 * Hey! Johnny Cope, are ye a-waukin' yet?
 * Or are your drums a-beating yet?
 * If ye were waukin' I wad wait,
 * Tae gang tae the coals in the morning.


 * Now Johnny be as good as your word,
 * Come, let us try baith fire and sword,
 * And dinna flee like a frichted bird,
 * That's chased frae its nest i' the morning.


 * Hey! Johnny Cope, are ye a-waukin' yet?
 * Or are your drums a-beating yet?
 * If ye were waukin' I wad wait,
 * Tae gang tae the coals in the morning.


 * When Johnny Cope he heard o' this,
 * He thocht it wouldna be amiss,
 * Tae hae a horse in readiness,
 * Tae flee awa in the morning.


 * Hey! Johnny Cope, are ye a-waukin' yet?
 * Or are your drums a-beating yet?
 * If ye were waukin' I wad wait,
 * Tae gang tae the coals in the morning.


 * Fye now, Johnny, get up an' rin,
 * The Highland bagpipes mak' a din,
 * It's better tae sleep in a hale skin,
 * For it will be a bluidie morning.


 * Hey! Johnny Cope, are ye a-waukin' yet?
 * Or are your drums a-beating yet?
 * If ye were waukin' I wad wait,
 * Tae gang tae the coals in the morning.


 * When Johnny Cope tae Dunbar cam,
 * They speired at him, "Where's a' your men"
 * "The de'il confound me gin I ken,
 * For I left them a' in the morning."


 * Hey! Johnny Cope, are ye a-waukin' yet?
 * Or are your drums a-beating yet?
 * If ye were waukin' I wad wait,
 * Tae gang tae the coals in the morning.


 * Now Johnny, troth ye werena blate,
 * Tae come wi' news o' your ain defeat,
 * And leave your men in sic a strait,
 * Sae early in the morning.


 * Hey! Johnny Cope, are ye a-waukin' yet?
 * Or are your drums a-beating yet?
 * If ye were waukin' I wad wait,
 * Tae gang tae the coals in the morning.


 * In faith, quo Johnny, I got sic flegs
 * Wi' their claymores an' philabegs,
 * Gin I face them again, de'il brak my legs,
 * So I wish you a' good morning.