Poetry Archives

Is there, for honest poverty,
      That hings his 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-gray, 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
      Wha struts, 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 riband, star, an’ a’ that,
           The man o’ independent mind,
                He looks and laughs at a’ that.

A prince can mak a belted knight,
      A marquis, duke, an’ a’ that;
But an honest man’s aboon his might,
      Guid faith he mauna fa’ that!
           For a’ that, an’ a’ that,
                Their dignities, an’ a’ that,
           The pith o’ sense, an’ 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, an’ a’ that.
           For a’ that, an’ a’ that,
                It’s coming yet, for a’ that,
           That man to man, the warld o’er,
                Shall brothers be for a’ that.