A Man’s a Man for A’ That

Robert Burns · 1795

Catalog grade guidance: 9–12 — Political song; Scots.

42 content lines · 285 words · Est. recitation about 2 min 43 sec (approx.)

Public-domain text for reading and recitation practice. Source: Project Gutenberg #1279: Poems and Songs of Robert Burns (chronological arrangement).Estimated time uses ~120 words/minute plus short pauses—not a contest rule.

A Man’s A Man For A’ That

     Tune—“For a’ that.”


     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 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.

     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, he maunna 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,
     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.