Lyrics A Man's A Man - The Corries

A Man's A Man

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, 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 cuif 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 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
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 oe’r
Shall brithers be for a' that