A Man’s A Man for A’ That
for TB and piano
Source: Traditional Scottish
view score
Is there for honest poverty,
That hangs its head, an’ a’ that?
The coward slave, we pass him by,
We dare be poor for a’ that!
For a’ that, an’ a’ that,
Our toils obscure, an’ a’ that;
The rank is but the guinea’s stamp,
The man’s the gowd for a’ that
What tho’ on hamely fare we dine,
Wear hoddin grey, an’ a’ that,
Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine,
A man’s a man for a’ that;
For a’ that, an’ a’ that,
Their tinsel show, an’ 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,
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 and laughs,
Looks an’ laughs at a’ that.
A prince can mak’ a belted knight,
A marquis, duke an’ a’ that,
But an honest man’s abon is might,
Gude faith, he maunna fa’ that.
For a’ that, an’ a’ that,
The dignities an a’ that,
The pith o’ sense, the pride o’ worth,
Are higher rank than a’ that.
Then let us pray, let us pray.
Then let us pray that come it may,
As come it will, for a’ that,
That Sense an’ Worth o’er a’ the earth,
Shall bear the gree an’ a’ that.
For a’ that, an’ a’ that,
It’s comin’ yet, for a’ that,
That Man to Man, the world o’er,
Shall brothers be, brothers be, for a’ that.