A MAN'S A MAN FOR ALL THAT (Robert Burns) Is there for honest poverty, That hangs his head, an' a' that The coward slave, we pass him by, We dare be poor for a' that For a' that, an' a' that, Our toil's obscure and a' that The rank is but the guinea's stamp, The man's the gowd for a' that What though on hamely fare we dine, Wear hoddin grey, an' a' that Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine, A man's a man, for a' that For a' that, an' a' that, Their tinsel show an' a' that The honest man, though e'er sae poor, Is king o' men for a' that Ye see yon birkie ca'd a lord, Wha struts an' stares an' a' that Tho' hundreds worship at his word, He's but a coof for a' that For a' that, an' a' that, His ribband, star and a' that The man o' independent mind, He looks an' laughs at a' that A prince can mak' a belted knight, A marquise, duke, an' a' that But an honest man's aboon his might, Gude faith, he maunna fa' that For a' that an' a' that, Their dignities an' a' that The pith o' sense an' pride o' worth, Are higher rank that 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, Shall bear the gree an' a' that For a' that an' a' that, It's coming yet for a' that That man to man, the world o'er, Shall brithers be for a' that
Music; traditional. Content copyright © 2000 held by the author; Ian Hall.
