Anonymous: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

What's a' the steer, Kimmer

Anonymous

“What's a' the steer, Kimmer” as printed in The Scottish Minstrel (First Series) (1850).

Anonymous: Collected Lyrics Text 7 1850 · historical text
Public domainScottish songFolk
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Scottish Minstrel (First Series), a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

What's a' the steer, kimmer?

What's a' the steer?

Charlie he is landed,

And haith he'll soon be here.

The win' was at his back, carle,

The win' was at his back,

I earena since he's come, carle,

We werena worth a plack.

Verse 2

I'm right glad to hear't. kimmer,

I'm right glad to hear't;

I hae a gude braid claymore,

And for his sake I'll wear't.

Sin' Charlie he is landed,

We hae nae mair to fear;

Sin' Charlie he is landed,

We'll hae a jub'lee year.

Credits

Written by Anonymous

Words by Anonymous. Historical text published in The Scottish Minstrel (First Series) (1850); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Scottish Minstrel (First Series) (1850), “What's a' the steer, Kimmer”

Every contribution in this 1850 anthology predates modern copyright terms; any contributor died more than 130 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-12. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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