Hey, Johnnie Cope, are you wauking yet?
Or are your drums a-beating yet?
If ye were wauking I wad wait
To gang to the coals in the morning
Verse 2
Cope sent a challenge frae Dunbar
"Charlie meet me an ye daur,
An I'll learn you the art o' war
If you'll meet me in the morning"
Verse 3
When Charlie looked the letter upon,
He drew his sword the scabbard from
"Come follow me, my merry men,
An' we'll meet Johnnie Cope in the morning!"
Verse 4
"Now Johnnie, be as good as your word
Come, let us try both fire and sword
And dinna rin like a frightened bird
That's chased frae it's nest in the morning"
Verse 5
When Johnnie Cope he heard of this
He thought it wad'na be amiss
To hae his horse in readiness
To flee awa' in the morning
Verse 6
Fly now Johnnie, get up and rin
The Highlands bagpipes make a din
It's best to sleep in a hale skin
For 'Twill be a bluidy morning
Verse 7
When Johnnie cope to Dunbar came
They sneered at him, "Where's a' your men?"
"The Deil confound me gin I ken
For I left them a' in the morning
Verse 8
Now Johnnie, Troth, ya are na blate
To come wi' the news o' your ain defeat
And leave your men in sae a strait
Sae early in the morning
Verse 9
"I' faith" quo Johnnie " I got a fleg
Wi' their claymores and phillabegs
If I face them again, Deil break my legs!
Else I wish you a gud morning"