# The Book of Scottish Song/Johnnie Cope

Johnnie Cope.
[The universally-popular song of "Johnnie Cope," (which owes much of its popularity, we dare say, to its spirit-stirring air,) was written on the defeat of Sir John Cope and the king's forces by Prince Charles and the Highlanders, at Preston, in Haddingtonshire, on the 22d September, 1745. This engagement is called according to the different local positions of the conflicting parties, the battle of Prestonpans, of Tranent Muir, or of Gladsmuir. Sir John Cope, as is well known, made a precipitate and disgraceful retreat from the field, followed by his dragoons, and did not stay his flight till he reached Dunbar. His conduct on the occasion brought him under the investigation of a court-martial, but he was acquitted. The muses, however, did not acquit him, for they have rendered him immortal in song—as a runaway. The author of the original words of "Johnnie Cope," we have every reason to believe, was Adam Skirving, a wealthy former in Haddingtonshire, who also wrote the song called "Tranent Muir," given in another part of this work. Mr. Skirving was a very athletic man, and distinguished for his skill in all manly sports and exercises. He was born in 1719, educated at Preston kirk in East Lothian, and long held the farm of Garleton,—about two miles from Haddington, on the road to Gosford. He died in April, 1803, and was buried in the churchyard of Athelstaneford, where his merits are recorded in the following metrical epitaph:
"In feature, in figure, agility, mind, And happy wit rarely surpass'd, With lofty or low could be plain or refined, Content beaming bright to the last."
He had a son, Archibald, who reached high distinction in Edinburgh as a minature and crayon painter, and another, Robert, who was long in the East India Company's service. There are various different readings of the song of "Johnnie Cope," (see Johnson's Museum, Ritson's collection, and Cunningham's collection,) but the one here given is the original and genuine one. The song has been also often travestied,—and on no more memorable occasion than on the recent royal landing in Scotland, when her Majesty took the Magistrates of Edinburgh, and many others, by surprise, by getting up "so early in the morning." The air of "Johnnie Cope" is older than the song, and used to be called "Fye to the hills in the morning." We cannot say whether the expression in Skirving's song, "To gang to the coals" be a corruption of the old words "To gang to the hills," or merely a proverbial expression for early rising.]
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, Hey, Johnnie Cope, are ye wauking yet? Or are your drums a-beating yet? If ye were wauking, I wad wait To gang to the coals i' 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. Hey, Johnnie Cope, &c.
Now, Johnnie, be as good's your word: Come let us try both fire and sword; And dinna flee away like a frighted bird, That's chased frae its nest in the morning.
Hey, Johnnie Cope, &c.
When Johnnie Cope he heard of this, He thought it wadna be amiss, To ha'e a horse in readiness To flee awa' in the morning. Hey, Johnnie Cope, &c.
Fy now, Johnnie, get up and rin, The Highland bagpipes mak' a din; It is best to sleep in a hale skin, For 'twill be a bluidy morning. Hey, Johnnie Cope, &c.
When Johnnie Cope to Dunbar came, They speer'd at him, Where's a your men? The deil confound me gin I ken, For I left them a' i' the morning. Hey, Johnnie Cope, &c.
Now, Johnnie, troth ye are na blate To come wi' the news o' your ain defeat, And leave your men in sic a strait Sae early in the morning. Hey, Johnnie Cope, &c.
Oh! faith, quo' Johnnie, I got sic flegs Wi' their claymores and philabegs; If I face them again, deil break my legs— So I wish you a gude morning. Hey, Johnnie Cope, &c.