A Man's A Man For A' That - march

Eric Maclewis

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sung by McCalmans

A Man's A Man For A' That
(Robert Burns)

Is there for honest poverty
That hings 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 show 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 mak 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
Shall bear the gree and a' that
For a' that and a' that
It's coming yet for a' that
That man to man the world o'er
Shall brothers be for a' that

This text by Robert Burns published in 1795 was largely inspired by the new ideas that crossed Europe at this disturbed end of the 18th century.
It is read in particular as an egalitarian ode against the privileges linked to birth.

The song is based on the traditional tune chosen by R.Burns, Lady McIntosh's Reel, itself published in the collection Bremner's Reels published in 1759.
It is also known as Is There For Honest Poverty and remains a standard of Burns nights or Burns suppers, evenings organised in honour of the poet every January.

It was also performed during the revival of the Scottish Parliament (1999).

The proposed tempo (78 bpm) is much closer to the solemnity of the song and the spirit of Burns' text than the one usually chosen by pipe bands.

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A MAN'S A MAN
FOR A'THAT

MARCH