JOHNNY COCK. (See p. [11].)
From Fry's Pieces of Ancient Poetry, from unpublished Manuscripts and scarce Books (p. 51). Bristol, 1814.
"This ballad is taken from a modern quarto manuscript purchased at Glasgow of Messrs. Smith and Son in the year 1810, and containing several others, but written so corruptly as to be of little or no authority; appearing to be the text-book of some illiterate drummer, from its comprising the music of several regimental marches."
Fry did not observe that he was printing fragments of two different versions as one ballad. They are here separated.
I.
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.
His coat it is of the light Lincum green,5
And his breiks are of the same;
His shoes are of the American leather,
Silver buckles tying them.
Silver buckles, &c.
'He' hunted up, and so did 'he' down,
Till 'he' came to yon bush of scrogs,10
And then to yon wan water,
Where he slept among his dogs.
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