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.
Version 2
CHO: For a' that, an a' that,
An twice as muckle's a' that,
I've lost but ane, I've twa behin',
I've wife eneugh for a' that
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I am a Bard of no regard,
Wi'gentle folks an a' that,
But Homer-like the glowrin byke,
Frae town to town I draw that.
I never drank the Muses stank,
Castalia's burn, an a' that;
But there it streams, an richly reams-
My Helicon I ca' that.
Great love I bear to a' the fair,
Their humble slave an a' that;
But lordly will, I hold it still
A mortal sin to thraw that.
In raptures sweet this hour we meet,
Wi' mutual love an a' that;
But for how lang the flie may stang,
Let inclination law that!
Their tricks an craft hae put me daft,
They've taen me in, an a'that;
But clear your decks, an here's the Sex!
I like the jads for a'that.
For a' that an a' that,
An twice as muckle's a' that,
My dearest bluid, to do them guid,
They're welcome till't for a' that!
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