WELCOME TO An Entertainment Site for Scottish Country Dancers - Enjoy the curated selection of theme-related dances for celebrations and holidays, or find a dance associated with a special calendar day, or EVEN your own birthday!
Coloured lithograph by Mouilleron after Sir William Allan, 1852
The Battle of Prestonpans
Sep 21
Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day
Today's Musings, History & Folklore
"Hey, Johnnie Cope, are ye waukin' yet?
Or are your drums a-beatin' yet?
If ye were waukin', I would wait
Tae gang tae the coals in the morning."
~ Johnnie Cope, Adam Skirving, c. 1745
Hey, Johnny Cope! We have a dance and tapestry for you! All taunting aside, the Battle of Prestonpans, fought on 21 September 1745, was a significant early victory for the Jacobite forces led by Charles Edward Stuart, better known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, against the Hanoverian army. This victory emboldened the Jacobite cause during the uprising of 1745, marking a pivotal moment in Scottish history. The battle took place near the town of Prestonpans, just east of Edinburgh, and saw the Highlanders execute a swift and decisive charge, overwhelming the government troops under Sir John Cope. In commemoration of this historic battle, the Prestonpans Tapestry, commissioned by the Prestoungrange Arts Festival and the Battle of Prestonpans 1745 Heritage Trust, created by a dedicated team of embroiderers. This fascinating piece of art and history illustrates the events surrounding this battle in 400 separate panels and was unveiled in 2010 at The Greenhills near Cockenzie Power Station, which is on the edge of the Prestonpans battlefield itself! Enjoy this rousing jig to the rousing namesake tune and chase Johnny and his men right back to where they came from! 🏴 ⚔️ 🏴
Hey Johnny Cope
The song "Hey Johnnie Cope, Are Ye Waking Yet?" is a Scottish folk song that commemorates the Battle of Prestonpans in 1745, where the Jacobite forces led by Charles Edward Stuart defeated the government forces under Sir John Cope.
Here is one version of the lyrics:
Cope sent a challenge frae Dunbar:
'Charlie, meet me an' ye daur,
An' I'll learn you the art o' war
If you'll meet me i' the morning.'
Chorus
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 looked the letter upon
He drew his sword the scabbard from:
'Come, follow me, my merry merry men,
And we'll meet Johnnie Cope i' the morningl
Chorus
'Now Johnnie, be as good's your word;
Come, let us try both fire and sword;
And dinna rin like a frichted bird,
That's chased frae its nest i' the morning.'
Chorus
When Johnnie Cope he heard of this,
He thought it wadna be amiss
To hae a horse in readiness,
To flee awa' i' the morning.
Chorus
Fy now, Johnnie, get up an' rin;
The Highland bagpipes mak' a din;
It's best to sleep in a hale skin,
For 'twill be a bluidy morning.
Chorus
When Johnnie Cope tae Dunbar came,
They speired at him, 'Where's a' your men?'
'The deil confound me gin I ken,
For I left them a' i' the morning.
Chorus
'Now Johnnie, troth, ye werena blate
To come wi' news o' your ain defeat,
And leave your men in sic a strait
Sae early in the morning.
Chorus
'I' faith,' quo' Johnnie, 'I got sic flegs
Wi' their claymores an' philabegs;
If I face them again, deil break my legs!
Sae I wish you a' gude morning'.
Chorus
For more on the tribute tapestry for this battle, click on Johnny Cope below.
Click the dance cribs or description below to link to a printable version of the dance!
