A Man's A Man For A' That
R. Burns


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.









A Man's A Man For A' That
R. Burns


The bonniest lass that ye meet neist
Gie her a kiss an' a' that
In spite o' ilka parish priest
Repentin' stool an' a' that
For a' that an' a' that
Their mim-mou'd sangs an' a' that
In time and place convenient
They'll do't themselves for a' that.

Your patriarchs in days o' yore
Had their handmaids an' a' that
O' bastard gets some had a score
An' some had mair than a' that
For a' that an' a' that
Your langsyne saunts an' a' that
Were fonder o' a bonny lass
Than you or I for a' that.

King Davie when he waxed auld
An's bluid ran thin an' a' that
And found his cods were growing cauld
Could not refrain for a' that
For a' that an' a' that
To keep him warm an' a' that
The daughters o' Jerusalem
Were waled for him an' a' that.

King Solomon, prince o' divines
Wha proverbs made an' a' that
Baith mistresses an' concubines
In hundreds had for a' that
For a' that an' a' that
Tho' a preacher wise an' a' that
The smuttiest sang that e'er was sung
His Sang o' Sangs is a' that.

Then still I swear a clever chiel
Should kiss a lass an' a' that
Tho' priests consign him to the deil
As reprobate an' a' that
For a' that an' a' that
Their canting stuff an' a' that
They ken nae mair wha's reprobate
Than you or I for a' that.

Midi sequenced by Barry Taylor

Although both versions are ascribed to Robert Burns it seems unlikely that the second version is indeed his. Compared to some of his known works the words of the second version seem fairly crude.

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