Johnny Cope

Cope sent a challenge from Dunbar saying 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 walking yet or are your drums a beating yet
If ye were walking I would wait tae gang tae the coals in the morning

When Charlie looked his 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 walking yet or are your drums a beating yet
If ye were walking I would wait tae gang tae the coals in the morning

Now Johnny be as good as your word come let us try baithe fire and sword
And dinna flee like a frichted bird that's chased frae its nest i' the morning
Hey Johnny Cope are ye walking yet or are your drums a beating yet
If ye were walking I would wait tae gang tae the coals in the morning

When Johnny Cope he heard o' this He thocht it wadna ba a miss
Tae hae a horse in readiness Tae flee awa in the morning
Hey Johnny Cope are ye walking yet or are your drums a beating yet
If ye were walking I would wait tae gang tae the coals in the morning

Fye now Johnny get up a' rin The Highland bagpipes mak' a din
Its better tae Sleep in a hale skin for it will be a bloody morning
Hey Johnny Cope are ye walking yet or are your drums a beating yet
If ye were walking I would wait tae gang tae the coals in the morning

When Johnny Cope tae Dunbar cam' the spiered 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 walking yet or are your drums a beating yet
If ye were walking I would wait tae gang tae the coals in the morning

Now Johnny troth ye werna blate Tae come wi' news o' your ain defeat
And leave you men in sic a strait Sac early in the morning
Hey Johnny Cope are ye walking yet or are your drums a beating yet
If ye were walking I would wait tae gang tae the coals in the morning

In faith qou Johnny I got sic flags Wi' their claymores an' philabegs
Gin I face them again de'il brak my legs so I wish you a' good morning
Hey Johnny Cope are ye walking yet or are your drums a beating yet
If ye were walking I would wait tae gang tae the coals in the morning

(Cope, in spite of the ridicule he had to endure, had the last laugh when after his defeat at Prestonpans
he wagered ten thousand pounds that the English would lose to the Scots at Falkirk. He won the bet.)