Johnny Cope Lyrics - Seven Nations

Johnny Cope 

(Traditional, arranged by Kirk McLeod) 

Cope sent a message from Dunbar 

Saying Charlie meet me if you dare 

And I'll learn you the art of war 

If you'll meet me in the morning 

Hey, now Johnny are you wailin' yet 

And are your drums a beatin' yet 

If you're walkin' I would wait 

You're goin' to the coals in the morning 

When Charlie looked the letter upon 

He drew his sword his scabbard from 

Follow me my merry men 

And we'll meet Johnny Cope in the morning 

Hey, now Johnny are you wailin' yet 

And are your drums a beatin' yet 

If you're walkin' I would wait 

You're goin' to the coals in the morning 

When Johnny Cope he heard of this 

He thought it wouldn't be amiss 

To have a horse in readiness 

To flee far away in the morning 

Go no Johnny get up and run 

The highland 'pipes are making a din 

It's better to sleep in a hail skin 

It will be a bloody morning 

When Johnny Cope to Dunbar came 

He asked of him, "where's all your men?" 

They'll confound me again and again 

For I left them all in the morning 

Hey now Johnny you weren't too late 

To come with news of your own defeat 

And leave your men in such a state 

So early in the morning.