The Music Of Scotland



    A Man's A Man For A' That

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

    Ye see yon birkie ca'd a lord
    Wha struts, and stares and a' that
    Tho' hundreds worship at his word
    He's but a coof for a' that.
    For a' that, and a' that
    His ribbon, star and a' that
    the man o' independence mind
    He looks and laughs at a' that.

    A king can make a belted knight
    A marquis, duke and a' that
    But an honest man's aboon his micht
    Gude faith, he maunna fa' all that
    For a' that, and a' that
    Their dignities and a' that
    The pith o' sense and pride o' worth
    Are higher ranks than a' that.

    Then let us pray that come it may
    As come it will for a' that
    That sense and worth o'er a' the earth
    May bear the gree and a' that
    For a' that, and a' that
    It's coming yet, for a' that
    When man to man the world o'er
    Shall brithers be for a' that.


    back to britannia.org's Music Of Scotland


    Page Last Updated: 22 Sep 2017 at 03:34 UTC

    You are visitor since 07 Jan 1999

    page design & content copyright © 2001 Andrew S Harris
    Pages best viewed at 800 x 600 - 24bit colour with Netscape Communicator
    return to britannia.org