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Hey Johnnie Cope

by The McCalmans

on Scottish Songs (1993)

The drums of war were sounding far
When Johnnie Cope cam tae Dunbar
When Johnnie Cope cam tae Dunbar
Upon a misty Morning

Cope sent a message tae Dunbar
Said, "Charlie meet me an' you daur
I'll learn ye the arts of war
If you meet me in the morning"

Hey Johnnie Cope are you wauking yet
Or are your drums a-beating yet
If you were wauking, I would wait
Tae gang tae The Coals in the morning

When Charlie looked the letter upon
He drew the sword the scabbard from
"Come follow me my merry men
And we'll meet Johnnie Cope in the morning"

Hey Johnnie Cope are you wauking yet
Or are your drums a-beating yet
If you were wauking, I would wait
Tae gang tae The Coals in the morning

When Johnnie Cope he heard o' this
He thought it wouldna be amiss
To hae a horse in readiness
To flee awa' in the morning

Hey Johnnie Cope are you wauking yet
Or are your drums a-beating yet
If you were wauking, I would wait
Tae gang tae The Coals in the morning

When Johnnie Cope tae Dunbar came
They spiered at him, "Where's a' your men?"
"The De'il confound me gin I ken
I left them a' this morning"

Hey Johnnie Cope are you wauking yet
Or are your drums a-beating yet
If you were wauking, I would wait
Tae gang tae The Coals in the morning

"Faith", quo Johnnie, "I had sic fegs
Wi' their claymores and their philabegs
If I face them again, De'il brak ma legs
An' I wish you a' good morning"

Hey Johnnie Cope are you wauking yet
Or are your drums a-beating yet
If you were wauking, I would wait
Tae gang tae The Coals in the morning

Hey Johnnie Cope are you wauking yet
Or are your drums a-beating yet
If you were wauking, I would wait
Tae gang tae The Coals in the morning