Paddy Goes To Holyhead

Johnnie Cope

Paddy Goes To Holyhead


Jock sent a letter 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"

Charlie read the letter upon
The drew it is all scabbard from
So, follow me, my merry men
We´ll meet johnnie cope in the morning

Now johnnie, be as good as your word
Come, let us try baith fire and sword
And dinna flee like a frightend bird
That´s chased frae its nest i´ the morning

When johnnie cope he heard o´ this
He thocht himself wouldna be amiss
Tae hae saddled me 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 came
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"

Hey, johnnie cope are ye waukin´ yet
Or are your drums a-beating yet?
If ye were waukin´ i would wait
Tae gang tae the coals in the morning