University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The English and Scottish Popular Ballads

Edited by Francis James Child.

expand sectionI. 
expand sectionII. 
expand sectionIII. 
expand sectionIV. 
expand sectionV. 
expand sectionVI. 
collapse sectionVII. 
expand section189. 
expand section190. 
collapse section191. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
expand section192. 
expand section193. 
expand section194. 
expand section195. 
expand section196. 
expand section197. 
expand section198. 
expand section199. 
expand section200. 
expand section201. 
expand section202. 
expand section203. 
expand section204. 
expand section205. 
expand section206. 
expand section207. 
expand section208. 
expand section209. 
expand section210. 
expand section211. 
expand section212. 
expand section213. 
expand section214. 
expand section215. 
expand section216. 
expand section217. 
expand section218. 
expand section219. 
expand section220. 
expand section221. 
expand section222. 
expand section223. 
expand section224. 
expand section225. 
expand sectionVIII. 
expand sectionIX. 


5

Johnny Cock

JOHNIE COCK—C

[_]

Pieces of Ancient Poetry from Unpublished Manuscripts and Scarce Books, Bristol, 1814, p. 51.

1

Johnny Cock, in a May morning,
Sought water to wash his hands,
And he is awa to louse his dogs,
That's tied wi iron bans.
That's tied wi iron bans

2

His coat it is of the light Lincum green,
And his breiks are of the same;
His shoes are of the American leather,
Silver buckles tying them.

3

'He' hunted up, and so did 'he' down,
Till 'he' came to yon bush of scrogs,
And then to yon wan water,
Where he slept among his dogs.
[OMITTED]

4

Johnny Cock out-shot a' the foresters,
And out-shot a the three;
Out shot a' the foresters,
Wounded Johnny aboun the bree.

5

‘Woe be to you, foresters,
And an ill death may you die!
For there would not a wolf in a' the wood
have done the like to me.

6

‘For’ 't would ha' put its foot in the coll water
And ha strinkled it on my bree,
And gin that would not have done,
Would have gane and lett me be.

7

‘I often took to my mother
The dandoo and the roe,
But now I'l take to my mother
Much sorrow and much woe.

8

‘I often took to my mother
The dandoo and the hare,
But now I'l take to my mother
Much sorrow and much care.’