Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

For a' that 1

Robert Burns

“For a' that 1” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 35 1843 · historical text
Public domainScottish songFolk
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Book of Scottish Song, edited by Alexander Whitelaw, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

Is there, for honest poverty,

That hangs his head, and a' that?

The coward-slave, we pass him by;

We dare be puir, for a' that,

For a' that, and a' that,

Our toils obscure, and a' that,

The rank is but the guinea-stamp—

The man's the gowd, for a' that.

What though on hamely Sire we dine,

Wear hoddin-grey, and a' that?

Gi'e 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, though e'er sae puir,

Is king o' men, for a' that.

Ye see yon birkie, ca'd a lord,

Wha struts, and stares, and a' that;

Though hundreds worship at his word,

He's but a cuif, for a' that.

For a' that, and a' that,

His ribbon, star, and a' that,

The man of independent mind,

He looks and laughs at a' that.

A king 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, the pride o' worth,

Are higher ranks 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 comin' yet, for a' that,

That man to man, the warld o'er,

Shall brothers be, for a' that.

Credits

Written by Robert Burns

Words by Robert Burns. Historical text published in The Book of Scottish Song (1843); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Book of Scottish Song (1843), edited by Alexander Whitelaw, “For a' that 1”

Every contribution in this 1843 anthology predates modern copyright terms by more than a century; any contributor died at least 130 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide (life+70 terms expired no later than 2020).

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-12. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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