Poem: A Man’s A Man For A’ That by Robert Burns

Last week, we looked at Robert Burns as the master of love songs and poems. But that was only one facet of his remarkable creativity. He wrote of course in the era of the French Revolution, but the five verses of A Man’s a Man for a’ That are worth thousands of words of academic polemic or political diatribe on the Rights of Man.

LESLEY DUNCAN

Is there, for honesty Poverty

That hings 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’s stamp, The Man’s the gowd for a’ that.

What though on hamely fare we dine, Wear hoddin 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 poor, Is king o’ men for a’ that.

Ye see yon birkie ca’d, a lord,

What struts , and stares, and a’ that, Though hundreds worship at his word, He’s but a coof for a’ that,

For a’ that, and a’ that,

His ribband, 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, Gude 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 Shall bear the gree, and a’ that,

For a’ that, and a’ that,

It’s comin yet for a’ that,

That Man to Man the warld o’er,

Shall brothers be for a’ that.