Cope sent a message from Dunbar
sayin Charlie meet me if you dare
and I'll learn you the art if war
if you'll meet me in the morning

Hey, now johnny are you wailin yet
and are your drums a' beatin yet
if your 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 your 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 now Johnny get up and run
the highland pipes are makin 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