Tannahill Weavers - Johnnie Cope/The Athol Highlanders

Текст с Bandcamp’а: “Once upon a time there was the 1745 rebellion or uprising, depending on your politics, whereupon the Highland Scots, led by a Frenchman (Bonnie Prince Charlie) fought against the English led by a German (George of the House of Hannover). This song tells of one of the Scot’s early successes at the battle of Prestonpans, near Edinburgh. The English general, Johnnie Cope, seems to have been so afraid of the sound of the Scottish bagpipes that he disappeared faster than a five pound note in an off license and also, unfortunately, got back to England considerable faster than his troops. Being asked why he ran so fast he replied that unfortunately he couldn’t fly. 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 morning Cherlie read the letter upon He drew his sword its scabbard from Sayin’ follow me my merry men And we’ll meet Johnny Cope in the morning Chorus: Hey Johnnie Cope are ye walking yet? And are your drums a-beating yet? If you were walking I would wait Tae gang tae the coals in the morning Come noo Johnnie be as good as your word And let us try baith fire and sword Dinnae flee like a frightened bird Thats gone frae its nest in the morning 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 Chorus Bye noo Johnnie get up and rin The heiland bagpipes mak a din Its 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 Chorus 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 Chorus from The Tannahill Weavers IV, track released January 1, 1981 Traditional arr. Tannahill Weavers“