A Man’s A Man For A’ That
Robert Burns
Is there for honest poverty
That hangs his head, an’ a’ that,
The coward slave we pass him by;
We daur be puir for a’ that.
For a’ that an’ a’ that,
Our toils obscure an’ a’ that,
The rank is but the guinea stamp;
The man’s the gowd for a’ that.
What though on hamely fare we dine
Wear hodden 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, tho’ e’er sae puir,
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 cuif for a’ that.
For a’ that an’ a’ that,
His ribband, star, an’ a’ that’
The man o’ independent mind,
He looks and laughs at a’ that!
A price can mak’ a belted knight
A marquis, duke, an’ a’ that!
But an honest man’s aboon his might –
Guid faith, he mauna fa’ that!
For a’ that an’ a’ that,
Their dignities, an’ a’ that,
The pith o’ sense an’ pride o’ worth
Are higher rank 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
Shall bear the gree an’ a’ that!
For a’ that an’ a’ that,
It’s comin’ yet for a’ that,
That man to man the world o’er
Shall brithers be for a’ that.
Sung when the Scottish Parliament was re-convened in 1999, after nearly 300 years.
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