A Man's A Man For A'That

A Man's A Man For A'That

TUNE—"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 daur be puir 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 hamely fare we dine,

Wear hodden-grey, 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 e'er sae puir,

Is king o' men for a' that.

Ye see you birkie, ca'd a lord,

Wha struts, and stares, and a' that;

Though hundreds worship at his word,

He's but a cuif for a' that.

For a' that, and a' that,

His ribbon, star, and a' that,

The man of independent 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 mieht,

Gude faith, he maunna fa' that!

For a' that, and a' that,

Their dignities, and a'that.

The pith o'sense, the pride o'worth,

Are higher rank for a' that.

Then let us pray, that cme 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,

That man to man, the warld o'er,

Shall brothers be for a' that.

Robert Burns

1:14, p. 1

10.22.1857