Jock sent a letter frae Dunbar
Sayin "Charlie meet me an′ ye daur
An′ I′ll learn ye the airt o′ war
If ye′ll meet me here in the morning"
Charlie read the letter upon
The drew it is all scabbard from
So, follow me, my merry men
we′ll meet Johnnie Cope in the morning
[chorus:]
Hey, Johnnie Cope are ye waukin′ yet
Or are your drums a-beating yet?
If ye were waukin′ I would wait
Tae gang tae the coals in the morning
Now Johnnie, be as good as your word
Come, let us try baith fire and sword
And dinna flee like a frightend bird
That′s chased frae its nest i′ the morning
When Johnnie Cope he heard o′ this
He thocht himself wouldna be amiss
Tae hae saddled me horse in readiness
Tae flee awa in the morning
[chorus]
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
When Johnnie Cope tae Dunbar came
They speired at him, "Where′s a′ your men?"
"The de′il confound me gin I ken
For I left them a′ in the morning"
[chorus]