Hey Johnny Cope

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 8 1s+2s set, 1L followed by 1M casts, crosses up between 2s, casts round 2M into 2nd place own sides (2s step up 7-8) 213
9-16 1s+3s set, 1M followed by 1L casts, crosses up between 3s, cast round 3L into 3rd place own sides (3s step up 15-16) 231
17-24 1M followed by 1L casts up behind 3M and into 1st place opposite sides while 2L followed by 2M casts behind 3L and into 3rd place opposite sides. 1s+3s+2s circle 6H round to left. (1)3(2)
25-32 1s+2s repeat bars 17-24 in opposite direction. 231

(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)

Dance Instruction Videos

Dance Information

The title of this dance, Hey Johnny Cope, comes from the Hey, Johnnie Cope - Song written by Adam Skirving to a well known tune.

The song gives an account from the Jacobite viewpoint of the Battle of Prestonpans. In the battle, which took place during the Second Jacobite uprising, Sir John Cope was the commander of the government troops, and was defeated in a dawn attack by the Jacobites.

The song includes several apocryphal incidents, including challenges conveyed by letters between Cope and his rival Bonnie Prince Charlie, as well as accurate accounts of Cope's cowardice. It also includes an account of him fleeing from the battle all the way back to Berwick, being the messenger of his own defeat, which is also true. The battle was a decisive victory for the Jacobites.

Hey, Johnnie Cope Song - Information Video

Sir John Cope (1690-1760), c. 1730

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