A Man's a Man for A' That
"A Man's a Man for A' That" | |
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Song | |
Songwriter(s) | Robert Burns |
"A Man's a Man for A' That", also known as "Is There for Honest Poverty" or "For A' That and A' That", is a 1795egalitarian ideas of society, which may be seen as expressing the ideas of republicanism that arose in the 18th century.
The song made its first appearance in a letter Burns wrote to George Thomson in January 1795. It was subsequently published anonymously in the August edition of the Glasgow Magazine, a radical monthly.[2] Thomson later included it in the fourth volume of his Select Collection of Original Scottish Airs, giving it the title "The Honest Man the Best of Men".[3]
Scottish folksinger
Revolutions of 1848
.
The words "pride o' worth" appear on the crest of the Scottish Qualifications Authority.
Poem
- Is there, for honest poverty,
- That hangs his head, and a' that?
- The coward slave, we pass him by,
- We dare be poor for a' that!
- For a' that, and a' that,
- Our toils obscure and 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, and 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 shew, and 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 and stares and a' that;
- Tho' hundreds worship at his word,
- He's but a coof for a' that:
- For a' that, and a' that,
- His ribband, star, and a' that,
- The man o' independent mind,
- He looks and laughs at a' that.
- A prince can make a belted knight,
- A marquis, duke, and a' that;
- But an honest man's aboon his might,
- Gude faith, he maunna fa' that!
- For a' that, and a' that,
- Their dignities and a' that;
- The pith o' sense, and 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,
- May bear the gree, and a' that!
- For a' that, and a' that,
- It's coming yet for a' that,
- That man to man, the warld o'er,
- Shall brothers be for a' that.[3]
Recordings
- Earl Robinson covered it on his 1963 album Earl Robinson Sings
- The Corries played it on Scotland Will Flourish, their 1985 live album
- The McCalmans played it on their 1993 album "Honest Poverty" -an album title also drawn from the song.[7]
- The Old Blind Dogs covered this song on their 2001 album Fit?
- Paolo Nutini covered this song for BBC Scotland at the Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow, in 2007
- Marc Gunn covered it on his 2013 album Scottish Songs of Drinking & Rebellion
- The Mudmen covered it on their 2012 album Donegal Danny
- Dougie MacLean covered it on his 1995 album Tribute
- Andy M. Stewart covered it on his 1991 album "The Songs of Robert Burns" as "Is There for Honest Poverty"
See also
References
- ^ A Man's A Man For A' That, Burns Country
- ISBN 0-19-812321-3.
- ^ a b Thomson, George (n.d.). A Select Collection of Original Scottish Airs for the Voice. Vol. 4. London: T. Preston. Air No. 163.
- ^ "Scottish Parliament Opening: In tune with the people". BBC News. 1 July 1999. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
- ^ A Man's A Man For A' That (Opening of Scottish Parliament) - Sheena Wellington. youtube.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
- ^ Midge Ure performs the Robert Burns song "A Man’s a Man for A’ That". youtube.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
- ^ The McCalmans, A Man's A Man for 'A That, retrieved 2024-02-27
External links
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