A Man s a Man for a That. Robert Burns
Is there for ho-nest po-ver-ty, That hangs his head, an a that, The
co-ward slave, we pass him by; We dare be poor for a that. For
a that, an a that, Our toils ob-scured, and a that, The
rank is but the gui-nea stamp; The man s a gowd for a that.
What though on hamely fare we dine,
Wear hoodin grey, an a that ?
Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine,
A man s a man for a that,
Their tinsel show. an a that,
The honest man, tho e er sae poor,
Is king of 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, an a that,
The man of independent mind
He looks an laughs at a that.
A prince can mak a belted knight,
A marquis, duke, an a that,
But an honest man s aboon his might,
Guide 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 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 coming yet for a that,
That man to man, the world o er,
Shall brithers be for a that.