Poetry of Robert Burns

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 dare be poor 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 tho’ on hamely fare we dine,
Wear hodden-gray, 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, tho’ e’er sae poor,
Is King o’ men 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 riband, star, and a’ that,
The man of independent mind,
He looks and laughs at a’ that.

A prince can mak a belted knight,
A marquis, duke, and a’ that;
But an honest man’s aboon his might.
Guid faith he mauna fa’ that !
For a’ that, and a’ that,
Their dignities, and a’ that,
The pith o’ sense, and 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,
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.