Cope sent a challenge from Dunbar saying"Charlie meet me an' ye daur
An' I'll learn ye the art o' war
If Ye'll meet me in the mornin'"Chorus: Hey, Johnnie Cope, are ye wailin' yet
Or are your drums a-beating yet? If ye were waukin' I wad wait
Tae gang tae the coals in the mornin'When Charlie looked the letter upon
He drew his sword the scabbard from
Come, follow me, my merry men
And we'll meet Johnnie Cope in the mornin'Hey, Johnnie Cope...
Now Johnnie, be as good as your word
Come, let us try baithe fire and sword, And dinna flee like a fritched bird
That's chased free its nest i' the morning
Hey, Johnnie Cope...
When Johnnie Cope he heard o' this, He thocht it wadna ba amiss
Tae hae a horse in readiness
Tae flee awa in the morning
Hey Johnnie Cope...
Fye now, Johnnie, get up an' rin
The highland bagpipes mak' a din
It's better tae sleep in ahale skin
For it will be a bluidie morning
Hey Johnnie Cope...
When Johnnie Cope tae Dunbar cam'The spiered at him, "Where's a' your men?"The de'il confound me gin I ken
For I left them a' in the morning"Hey Johnnie Cope...
Now Johnnie, troth ye warna blate
Tae come we' news o' you ain defeat
And leave you men in sic a strait
Say early in the morning
Hey Johnnie Cope...
In faith, quo Johnnie, I got sic flegs
Wi' their claymores an' philabegs
Gin I face them again, de'il brak my legs
So I wish you a good morning
Hey Johnnie Cope...