Cope sent a challenge frae Dunbar
O Charlie meet me an ye daur
And I'll learn you the art o' war
If you'll meet me in the morning
Hey, Johnie Cope, are ye wauking yet?
Or are your drums a-beating yet?
If ye were wauking, I wad wait
To gang to the coals i' the morning
When Charlie look'd the letter upon
He drew his sword the scabbard from:
Come fellow me, my merry merry men
And we'll meet Cope in thе morning
Hey, Johnie Cope, arе ye wauking yet?
Or are your drums a-beating yet?
If ye were wauking, I wad wait
To gang to the coals i' the morning
Now, Johnie, be as good's your word:
Come, let us both try fire and sword;
And dinna rin away like a frighted bird
That's chased frae its nest in the morning
Hey, Johnie Cope, are ye wauking yet?
Or are your drums a-beating yet?
If ye were wauking, I wad wait
To gang to the coals i' the morning
When Johnie Cope he heard of this ’
He thought it wadna be amiss
To hire a horse in readiness
To flee awa' in the morning
Hey, Johnie Cope, are ye wauking yet?
Or are your drums a-beating yet?
If ye were wauking, I wad wait
To gang to the coals i' the morning
Fy now, Johnie, get up and xin;
The Highland bagpipes mak a iain:
It is best to sleep ina hale skin
For 'twill be a bluidy morning
Hey, Johnie Cope, are ye wauking yet?
Or are your drums a-beating yet?
If ye were wauking, I wad wait
To gang to the coals i' the morning
When Johnie Cope to Berwick came 5
They speer'd at him, Where's a' your men?
The deil confound me if I ken
For I left them at i' the morning
Hey, Johnie Cope, are ye wauking yet?
Or are your drums a-beating yet?
If ye were wauking, I wad wait
To gang to the coals i' the morning
Now, Johnie, troth ye are na blate
To come wi' the news o' your ain defeat
And leave your men in sic a strait
Sae early in the morning
Hey, Johnie Cope, are ye wauking yet?
Or are your drums a-beating yet?
If ye were wauking, I wad wait
To gang to the coals i' the morning
Oh! faith, quo' Johnie, I got a fleg
Wi' their claymores and philabegs;
If I face them again, deil break my legs -
So I wish you a guid-morning
Hey, Johnie Cope, are ye wauking yet?
Or are your drums a-beating yet?
If ye were wauking, I wad wait
To gang to the coals i' the morning
Other Ewan MacColl songs:
all Ewan MacColl songs all songs from 1961