Cope sent a challenge from Dunbar
Charlie, meet me an ye dare
And I’ll teach you the art of war
If you meet me in the morning.
When Charlie looked this letter upon
He drew his sword his scabbard from
Said, “Follow me, my merry men
We’ll meet Johnnie Cope in the morning
Chorus
Hey, Johnnie Cope, are you waking yet,
Are your drums a-beating yet
If you were waking, I would wait
To gang to the coals in the morning.
Come now Johnnie, be as good as your word
Come try your faith with fire and sword
And don’t flee away like a frightened bird
That’s chased from its nest in the morning
When Johnnie Cope he heard of this
He thought it would not be amiss
To hae a horse in readiness
Tae gang awa in the morning
Come now Johnnie, now get scamperin’
The Highland bagpipes make a din
It’s best to sleep in your Hale skin
It’ll be a bloody morning.
When Johnnie Cope to Berwick came
They asked of him, where are your men
The deil confound me I dinna ken,
For I left them all in the morning.