Robert Burns (1759-1796)
For a' That and a' That
1Is there, for honest poverty,
2 That hings his head, an' a' that?
3The coward slave, we pass him by,
4 We dare be poor for a' that!
5 For a' that, an' a' that,
6 Our toils obscure, an' a' that;
7 The rank is but the guinea's stamp;
8 The man's the gowd for a' that,
9What tho' on hamely fare we dine,
10 Wear hoddin-gray, an' a' that;
11Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine,
12 A man's a man for a' that.
13 For a' that, an' a' that,
14 Their tinsel show an' a' that;
15 The honest man, tho' e'er sae poor,
16 Is king o' men for a' that.
17Ye see yon birkie, ca'd a lord
18 Wha struts, an' stares, an' a' that;
19Tho' hundreds worship at his word,
20 He's but a coof for a' that:
21 For a' that, an' a' that,
22 His riband, star, an' a' that,
23 The man o' independent mind,
24 He looks and laughs at a' that.
25A prince can mak a belted knight,
26 A marquis, duke, an' a' that;
27But an honest man's aboon his might,
28 Guid faith he mauna fa' that!
29 For a' that, an' a' that,
30 Their dignities, an' a' that,
31 The pith o' sense, an' pride o' worth,
32 Are higher rank than a' that.
33Then let us pray that come it may,
34 As come it will for a' that,
35That sense and worth, o'er a' the earth,
36 May bear the gree, an' a' that.
37 For a' that, an' a' that,
38 It's coming yet, for a' that,
39 That man to man, the warld o'er,
40 Shall brothers be for a' that.
Notes
1] Sent to George Thomson, who was making a song collection, with the note, "I do not give you the foregoing song for your book, but merely by way of vive la bagatelle; for the piece is not really poetry."
8] gowd: gold.
10] hodden-gray: coarse grey cloth.
17] birkie: young fellow.
20] coof: fool.
27] aboon: above.
28] mauna a': cannot lay claim to.
36] gree: prize, literally favour (French gré).
Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.
Original text: The Glasgow Magazine (August 1795).
First publication date:
1797
RPO poem editor: G. G. Falle
RP edition: 3RP 2.321.
Recent editing: 4:2002/3/15
Composition date:
January
1795
Rhyme: ababbbab, varying
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