Ewan MacColl
A Man’s a Man for A’ That
[Verse 1]
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
[Verse 2]
What though 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, and a’ that
Their tinsel show, an’ a’ that;
The honest man, tho’ e’er sae poor
Is king o’ men for a’ that
[Verse 3]
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’ indеpendent mind
He looks an’ laughs at a’ that
[Verse 4]
A Princе 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
[Verse 5]
Then let us pray that come it may
As come it will for a’ that
That Sense and 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 warld o’er
Shall brithers be for a’ that