Four Songs (Newton-Stewart)/For A' That And A' That

by Robert Burns (1759-1796)

For other versions of this work, see A Man's a Man for A' That.

FOR A THAT AND A THAT.

Is there for honest poverty
That hangs his head, and a' that;
The coward slave we pass him by,
We dare be poor for a' that.
For a' that and a' that,
Our toils obscure, and a' that,
The rank is but the guinea stamp,
The man's the gowd for a' that.

What though on hamly fare we dine,
Wear hodden gray and a' that;
Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine,
A man's a man for a' that.
For a' that and a' that,
Their tinsel show and a' that,
The honest man though ne'er sae poor,
Is king o' men for a' that.

Ye see yon birkie, ca'd a lord,
Wha struts and stares and a' that,
Though hundreds worship at his word,
He's but a coof for a' that:
For a' that and a' that,
His ribband, star, and a' that,
Tho' man of independant mind
Can look and laugh at a' that.

A prince can mak a belted knight,
A marquis, duke, and a' that;
But an honest man's aboon his might,
Gude faith he mauna fa' that!
For a' that and a' that,
Their dignities and a' that,
The pith o' sense and pride o' worth
Are higher far than a' that.

Then let us pray that come it may,
As come it will for a' that,
When sense and worth o'er a' the earth
May bear the grie and a' that;
For a that and a' that,
Its coming yet for a' that,
When man to man, the warld o'er,
Shall brothers be for a' that.

 

FINIS.