Friday 22 January 2010

A Man's A Man For A' That

I've been off line researching and tomorrow evening I'll be giving it some of the Bard for friends down here in the Smoke. So it is quiet.

The party will be mixed. Bulgarian, Irish, English, South African, Japanese, Greek and there should have been a Yank but he's off globe trotting. Songs and poetry, good company, fine wine, the puddin' and the water of life.

Burns is universal.

Always remember that when "they" heave into view, no matter what title they have, what deeds they claim, what they say they can do for us. No matter how much power seems to rest with them and the philosophies that move them. No matter what violence acclaims them, they never will be, never were and are not our betters. We know that our fight is, always has been and always will be with their masters. That's the bitter twist they deny always.



A Man's A Man For A' That

Is there for honesty 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, 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 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 marquise, duke, an' a' that;
But an honest man's aboon 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 comin yet for a' that
That man to man, the world o'er,
Shall brithers be for a' that.