Jock sent a letter tae Dunbar
Sayin' Cherlie meet me gin ye daur
It's I'll learn ye the erts o' war
If ye meet me here in the mornin'

Cherlie read the letter upon
He drew his sword its scabbard from
Sayin' "Follow me my merry men
We'll meet Johnny Cope in the morning"

Hey Johnnie Cope are ye walkin' yet?
And are your drums a-beating yet?
If you were walking, I would wait
Tae gang tae the coals in the mornin'

Come noo Johnnie be as good as your word
And let us try baith fire and sword
Dinnae flee like a frightened bird
That's gone frae its nest in the mornin'

When Johnnie Cope he heard o' this
He said tae himself it widnae be amiss
Gin I saddle my horse in readiness
Tae gang a flee in the morning

Hey Johnnie Cope are ye walkin' yet?
And are your drums a-beating yet?
If you were walking, I would wait
Tae gang tae the coals in the mornin'
Bye noo Johnnie get up and rin
The heiland bagpipes mak a din
It's better tae sleep wi' a hale skin
It'll be a bloody morning

When Johnnie Cope tae Dunbar came
They speired at him, "where's a' your men?"
The deil confound me I dinnae ken
I left them a' in the morning

Hey Johnnie Cope are ye walkin' yet?
And are your drums a-beating yet?
If you were walking, I would wait
Tae gang tae the coals in the mornin'

Come noo Johnnie ye werenae plait
Tae come wi' the news o' your ane defeat
And leave your men in sic a state
Sae early in the morning

Wait quo' Johnnie I got sic' flegs
Wi' their claymores and philabegs
Gin I meet them again Deil brak' my legs
I bid you all good morning

Hey Johnnie Cope are ye walkin' yet?
And are your drums a-beating yet?
If you were walking, I would wait
Tae gang tae the coals in the mornin'
Hey Johnnie Cope are ye walkin' yet?
And are your drums a-beating yet?
If you were walking, I would wait
Tae gang tae the coals in the mornin'