Johnnie Cope --- Trad.
 
 
 [E]Jock sent a letter tae Dunbar
Sayin' [D]Cherlie meet me gin ye daur
It's [E]I'll learn [D]ye the [G]erts o' [D]war
If ye [G]meet me [D]here in the [E]morning
 
[chorus] [E]Hey! Johnnie Cope are ye waukin' yet?
              Or [D]are your drums a-beating yet?
              If [E]ye were waukin' [G]I wad [D]wait
              Tae [G]gang tae the [D]coals in the [E]morning.

 [E]Cope sent a challenge frae Dunbar
Sayin "[D]Charlie meet me an' ye daur
An' [E]I'll learn [D]ye the [G]airt o' [D]war
If ye'll [G]meet me [D]in the [E]morning." 

            [chorus]
 
When [E]Charlie looked the letter upon
He [D]drew his sword and scabbard from
Come, [E]follow [D]me, my [G]merry [D]men
And we'll [G]meet Johnnie [D]Cope in the [E]morning.
 
             [chorus]
 
Now [E]Johnnie, be as good as your word
Come, [D]let us try baith fire and sword
And [E]dinna [D]flee like a [G]frichted [D]bird
That's [G]chased frae its [D]nest i' the [E]morning.
 
            [chorus]
 
When [E]Johnnie Cope he heard o' this
He [D]thocht it wouldna be amiss
Tae [E]hae a [D]horse in [G]readi-[D]ness
Tae [G]flee a-[D]wa in the [E]morning.
 
[chorus] [E]Hey! Johnnie Cope are ye waukin' yet?
              Or [D]are your drums a-beating yet?
              If [E]ye were waukin' [G]I wad [D]wait
              Tae [G]gang tae the [D]coals in the [E]morning.
 
 
[E]Fye now, Johnnie, get up an' rin
The [D]Highland bagpipes mak' a din
It's [E]better tae [D]sleep in a [G]hale [D]skin
For it [G]will be a [D]bluidie [E]morning.
 
         [chorus]
 
When [E]Johnnie Cope tae Dunbar cam
They [D]speired at him, "Where's  a' your men?"
"The [E]de'il con-[D]found me [G]gin I [D]ken
For I [G]left them [D]a' in the [E]morning."
 
         [chorus]
 
[E]Now Johnnie, troth  ye werena blate
Tae [D]come wi' news o' your ain defeat
And [E]leave your [D]men in [G]sic a [D]strait
Sae [G]early [D]in the [E]morning.
 
[chorus] [E]Hey! Johnnie Cope are ye waukin' yet?
              Or [D]are your drums a-beating yet?
              If [E]ye were waukin' [G]I wad [D]wait
              Tae [G]gang tae the [D]coals in the [E]morning. 
 
In [E]faith, quo Johnnie, I got sic flegs
Wi' [D]their claymores an' philabegs
Gin I [E]face them a-[D]gain, de'il [G]brak my [D]legs
So I [G]wish you [D]a' good [E]morning.

 

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