Digital Tradition Mirror

Johnny Cope (2)

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Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

Johnny Cope (2)

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

  CHORUS
cho: O Hey! Johnnie Cope are ye waukin' yet?
     Or are your drums a-beating yet?
     If ye were waukin' I wad wait,
     Tae gang tae the coals in the morning.   [ie, go to the battle field
                                              at Prestonpans where the
When Charlie looked the letter upon,         open coal fields had been]
He drew his sword and scabbard from,
Come, follow me, my merry men,
And we'll meet Johnnie Cope in the morning.

Now Johnnie, 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.

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

Fye now, Johnnie, 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.

When Johnnie 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."

Now Johnnie, 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.

In faith, quo Johnnie, 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.


note:MacColl, whose version varies only marginally from the
     above, says he got it from his father's singing.

AJS
oct96

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!