Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

The Heron Ballads. First Ballad

Robert Burns

“The Heron Ballads. First Ballad” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 386 1887 · historical text
Public domainScottish songSong lyrics
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Poetical Works of Robert Burns, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

Whom will you send to London town,

To Parliament and a' that?

Or wha in a' the country round

The best deserves to fa' that?

For a' that, an' a' that,

Thro' Galloway and a' that;

Where is the laird or belted knight

That best deserves to fa' that?

Verse 2

Wha sees Kerroughtree's open yett,

And wha is't never saw that?

Wha ever wi' Kerroughtree meets

And has a doubt of a' that?

For a' that, an' a' that,

Here's Heron yet for a' that;

The independent patriot,

The honest man, an' a' that.

Verse 3

Tho' wit and worth in either sex,

St. Mary's Isle can shaw that;

Wi' dukes an' lords let Selkirk mix,

And weel does Selkirk fa' that.

For a' that, an' a' that,

Here's Heron yet for a' that!

The independent commoner

Shall be the man for a' that.

Verse 4

But why should we to nobles jouk,

And is't against the law that;

For why, a lord may be a gouk,

Wi' ribbon, star, an' a' that.

For a' that, an' a' that,

Here's Heron yet for a' that!

A lord may be a lousy loun,

Wi' ribbon, star, an' a' that.

Verse 5

A beardless boy comes o'er the hills,

Wi' uncle's purse an' a' that;

But we'll hae ane frae 'mang oursels,

A man we ken, an' a' that.

For a' that, an' a' that!

Here's Heron yet for a' that!

For we're not to be bought an' sold

Like naigs, an' nowt, an' a' that.

Verse 6

Then let us drink the Stewartry,

Kerroughtree's laird, an' a' that,

Our representative to be,

For weel he's worthy a' that.

For a' that, an' a' that,

Here's Heron yet for a' that!

A House of Commons such as he,

They would be blest that saw that.

Credits

Written by Robert Burns

Words by Robert Burns. Historical text published in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887), “The Heron Ballads. First Ballad”

Every text in this 1887 collected edition is by Robert Burns (1759-1796), who died more than 230 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide; the edition carries a Wikisource PD-old determination and a pre-1931 United States publication.

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 2026-10-25. 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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