For 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 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 skills, 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,
Wha struts and stares for 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 independendant 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, oe'r 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 warls o'er,
Shall brothers be for a' that!

Robert Burns was not a revolutionary in the true sense of the word, but he might seen as such by the society he ridicules in this satirical, written in 1795 shortly before he died.

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