“A Man's A Man For A' That” lyrics and music Robert Burns

Performed by Marc Gunn
from CD: Scottish Songs of Drinking & Rebellion

Is there for honest Poverty
That hangs 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.

Chords: Key D

[D]Is there for honest [G]Pover-[A]ty
[D]That hangs his head, [Bm]an' a' that;
The [D]coward slave-we [G]pass him [A]by,
We [D]dare be poor for [A]a' that!
For [D]a' that, an' [G]a' [A]that.
Our [D]toils obscure an' [Bm]a' that,
The [D]rank is but the [Em]guinea's stamp,
The [Bm]Man's the gowd for [A]a' that.