Is there for Honest Poverty (A man's a man)

Is there for honest Poverty

That hings his head, an' a' that;

The cowart 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 though on hamely fare we din,

Wear hodden 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 of 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 ribband, star, an' a' that:

The man o' independent mind

He 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 his might,

Gude faith, ha maunna fa' that!

For a' that, an' a' that,

Their dignities an' a' that;

The pith o' sense, an' pride o' worth

A higher rank than a' that.

Then let us pray, that come it may,

(And come it will for a' that,)

That Sense and Worth, o'er the earth,

Shall bear the gree, an a' that.

For a' that, an' a' that,

It's coming yet for a' that,

That Man to Man, the world o'er,

Shall brothers be for a' that.

Robert Burns, 1795

cowart = cowed, humbled
gowd = gold

birkie = "cool young man"

coof = idiot

maunna = musn't

bear the gree = take first place

The Corries