Mudcat Café message #4226630

The Mudcat Café ^TM
Thread #111922 Message #4226630
Posted By: GUEST,Lloyd Meadows
02-Aug-25 - 10:14 AM
Thread Name: Folklore: Johnny Cope - what are 'the coals'?
Subject: RE: Folklore: Johnny Cope - what are 'the coals'?

I always thought "the coals" referred to Newcastle. The song is suggesting Cope will flee to Newcastle (the coals). Field Marshall Wade was based in Newcastle with his army so Newcastle was the obvious place for Cope to escape to following his defeat.