Cope sent a challenge frae Dunbar,
Sayin "Charlie meet me an' ye daur;
An' I'll learn ye the airt o' war,
If ye'll meet me here in the morning."

When Charlie looked the letter upon,
He drew his sword and scabbard from,
Said, follow me, my merry men,
We'll meet Johnnie Cope in the morning.

Hey! Johnnie Cope are ye waukin' yet?
An' are your drums a-beating yet?
If ye were waukin' I wad wait,
Tae gang tae the coals in the morning. *

Now Johnnie, be as good as your word,
An' let us try baith fire and sword,
An' dinna flee like a frichted bird,
That's chased frae its nest i' the morning.
When Johnnie Cope he heard o' this,
He thocht it wouldna be amiss,
Tae hae a horse in readiness,
Tae flee awa in the morning.

Fye now, Johnnie, get up an' rin,
The Highland bagpipes mak' a din,
It's better tae sleep in a hale skin,
For it will be a bluidie morning.
When Johnnie Cope tae Dunbar cam,
They speired at him,
"Where's a' your men"
"The de'il confound me gin I ken,
For I left them a' in the morning."

brey diddle hiddle dum
diddle diddle diddle dum
brey diddle hiddle dum
diddle diddle draw
brey diddle hiddle dum
diddle diddle draw
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