Johnny Cope

Johnnie Cope's Dawn Duel: A Ballad of Retreat and Defiance
Be the first to rate this song

Lyrics

Cope sent a challenge fei Dunbar

Cope sent a challenge to Dunbar

""Sayins Cherlie, meet me an ye dare,

Saying, "Charlie, meet me if you dare,

I'll learn you the arts of war

I'll teach you the ways of war

If you meet me in the morning.""

If you face me in the morning."


Charlie looked the letter upon

Charlie read the letter

He drew his sword his scabbard from,

He unsheathed his sword

""Follow me, my merry men,

"Follow me, my merry men,

We'll meet Johnnie Cope in the morning!""

We'll confront Johnnie Cope in the morning!"


Hey, Johnnie Cope, are you waking yet,

Addressing Johnnie Cope, are you awake?

Are your drums a-beating yet?

Are your drums sounding?

If ye were waking, I would wait

If you were awake, I'd wait

To gang to the coals in the morning.

To go about our business in the morning.


Come now Johnnie, be as good as your word

Come now, Johnnie, keep your promise

come let us try with fire and sword

Come, let's engage in combat

And didnt flee like a aflected bird

And not run away like a frightened bird

That's chased from its nest in the morning

That's chased from its home in the morning


Johnnie Cope he heard of this

Johnnie Cope heard of this

He said to himself it would not be amiss

He thought it wise

To have a saddle n horse in readiness

To have a horse ready

To flee awall in the morning

To flee quickly in the morning


(chorus)

Chorus


Oh Johnnie, now get scamperin'

"Oh Johnnie, hurry now,

The Highland bagpipes mak a den

The Highland bagpipes make a noise

It's better to sleep in your whole skin

It's better to remain unharmed

It'll be a bloody morning.

It will be a violent morning."


Johnnie Cope to Dunbar came

Johnnie Cope arrived at Dunbar

The asked of him, ""Where are your men?""

They asked about his soldiers

""The divil confound me gin I ken,

"May the devil take me if I know,

For I left them all in the morning.""

For I left them all in the morning."


'Now Johnnie, troth, ye werena blate

"Now Johnnie, truly, you weren't shy

To come wi' news o' your ain defeat,

To come with news of your own defeat,

And leave your men in sic a strait

And abandon your men in such a state

Sae early in the morning.

So early in the morning."


'I' faith,' quo' Johnnie, 'I got sic flegs

"Indeed," said Johnnie, "I was so terrified

Wi' their claymores an' philabegs;

With their swords and kilts;

If I face them again, deil break my legs!

If I face them again, may the devil cripple me!

Sae I wish s you a' gude morning'.

So I bid you all a good morning."

The lyrics of this song contain explicit content.
Similar Songs

Comment