Adam Skirving - JOHNNIE COPE' - poem

JOHNNIE COPE
by Adam Skirving
read by Alan Cumming
rnaudioproductions for http://www.ipodity.com/
http://www.allcast.co.uk/


Adam Skirving (1719 -- April, 1803), Scottish song writer, was born in Haddington.
He became a farmer at Garleton, near Haddington, and died in April 1803. He was buried at Athelstaneford.
His reputation rests on two Jacobite ballads on the Battle of Prestonpans, one of which, Hey, Johnnie Cope, are Ye Waking Yet?, whilst very far from an accurate narrative, is popular enough to be found in many collections of Scottish songs.

The Jacobite Army under Bonnie Prince Charlie routed Hanoverian forces commanded by Sir John Cope at the Battle of Prestonpans on 21 September 1745 giving rise to this popular song.


Hey Johnnie Cope are ye waukin' yet?
Or are your drums a-beating yet?
If ye were waukin' I wad waitto gang to the coals i' the morning.
Cope sent a letter frae Dunbar
Charlie, meet me an' ye daur,and I'll learn you the art o' war,
If you'll meet me in the morning.
When Charlie look'd the letter upon he drew his sword the scabbard from;
Come follow me, my merry merry men and we'll meet Johnnie Cope in the morning.
Now Johnnie, be as good's your word
Come let us try baith fire and sword and dinna flee away like a frighted bird that's chased frae its nest in the morning.
When Johnnie Cope he heard o' this he thought it wadna be amiss to hae a horse in readiness to flee awa' in the morning.
Fy now, Johnnie get up and rin,
The Highland bagpipes mak' a din;
It is best to sleep in a hale skin or 'twill be a bluidy morning.
When Johnnie Cope to Dunbar came,they speir'd at him,
Where's a' your men?
The deil confound me gin I ken,for I left them a' i' the morning.
Now, Johnnie troth ye are na blate to come wi, news o' your ain defeat
and leave your men in sic a strait sae early in the morning.
Oh! faith quo' Johnnie, I got sic flegs,
Wi' their claymores and philabegs;
If I face them again, deil brak my legs -
So I wish you a gude morning.


Audio created by Robert Nichol AudioProductions all rights reserved

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[MarvellousMuffin]

@CenturyGamer

Tha thu gle dhuairc cuideachd. Bi modhail.

[MarvellousMuffin]

@CenturyGamer

Cha eil Gaidhlig an "real language" ann, tha Sassenach radh ann am "Scots Leid" cuideachd. Chan eil mi a tuighsinn sibh.

[CenturyGamer]

Do you even know what sassanach actually means in the real language, peasant cunt?

[bloobear1]

The Corries do a great version of the song

[reb0118]

When Johnie Cope to BERWICK cam, tey speir'd at him whaur's a' yer men?

[eilanroo]

Aye better wi music but nane the less a wee Sasenach poof whaes spine was aye up his erse, jest like every ither bas,tard born o thier ilk.

A curse on then a`

[bigchappy1970]

better with music

[PollyPeachum3penny]

great!  thanks for the poem on the side.