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| A Jacobite song, it was written by Adam Skirving, a local farmer, just after the battle of Prestonpans in 1745. It mocks the incompetence of the English General, Sir John Cope. |
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| Cope sent a challenge frae Dunbar, Saying Charlie meet me an' ye daur1, An' I'll learn ye the art O' war, If ye'll meet me in the morning. |
1. an' ye daur: "if you dare" |
| Chorus O Hey! Johnnie Cope, are ye waukin yet? Or are your drums a beating yet? If ye were waukin' I wad wait, Tae gang tae the coals2 in the morning. |
2. Coals: Coal was found locally |
| When Charlie looked the letter upon, He drew his sword the scabbard from Come, follow me my merrie men, And we'll meet Johnnie Cope in the morning. Chorus |
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| Now Johnnie be as good as your word, Come, let us try baith fire and sword, An dinna flee like a frichted bird, That's chased frae its nest i' the morning. Chorus |
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| When Johnnie Cope he heard o' this, He thocht it wadna be amiss, Tae hae a horse in readiness, Tae flee awa in the morning. Chorus |
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| Fye now Johnnie, get up an' rin, The Highland bagpipes mak' a din, It's better tae sleep in a hale skin, For it will be a bluidie morning. Chorus |
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| When Johnnie Cope tae Dunbar cam, They speired3 at him "Where's a' your men?" "The de'il confound me gin4 I ken5, For I left them a' in the morning." Chorus |
3. speired: "enquired" 4. gin: "if" 5. ken: "know" |
| Now Johnnie, troth6 ye werena blate7, Tae come wi' news o' your ain defeat, And leave your men in sic a strait, Sae early in the morning. Chorus |
6. troth: "truth" 7. blate: "ashamed" |
| In faith, quo Johnnie, I got sic flegs8, Wi' their claymores and their philabegs9, Gin I face them again, de'il brak my legs, So I wish you a' good morning. Chorus |
8. fleg: "a fright, a scare" 9. philabeg: The gathered and belted lower part of a plaid; a kilt. |
| Definitions taken from Oxford Talking Dictionary Copyright © 1998 The Learning Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. | |
Produced by Geoff Walker
Last Modified 17 February 2001