Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Gudeen to you, Kimmer

Robert Burns

“Gudeen to you, Kimmer” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 178 1887 · historical text
Public domainScottish songSong lyrics
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Poetical Works of Robert Burns, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

Gudeen to you, Kimmer,

And how do ye do?

Hiccup, quo' Kimmer,

The better that I'm fou.

We're a' noddin, nid nid noddin,

We're a' noddin at our house at hame.

Verse 2

Kate sits i' the neuk,

Suppin hen broo;

Deil tak Kate

An' she be na noddin too!

We're a' noddin, &c.

Verse 3

How's a' wi' you, Kimmer,

And how do ye fare?

A pint o' the best o't,

And twa pints mair.

We're a' noddin, &c.

Verse 4

How's a' wi' you, Kimmer,

And how do ye thrive;

How mony bairns hae ye?

Quo' Kimmer, I hae five.

We're a noddin, &c.

Verse 5

Are they a' Johny's?

Eh! atweel no:

Twa o' them were gotten

When Johny was awa.

We're a' noddin, &c.

Verse 6

Cats like milk,

And dogs like broo;

Lads like lasses weel,

And lasses lads too.

We're a noddin, &c.

Credits

Written by Robert Burns

Words by Robert Burns. Historical text published in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887), “Gudeen to you, Kimmer”

Every text in this 1887 collected edition is by Robert Burns (1759-1796), who died more than 230 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide; the edition carries a Wikisource PD-old determination and a pre-1931 United States publication.

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 2026-10-25. 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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