The Times Ain’t a-Changin

Jack thought this might be appropriate for the times – –

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, and 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 coof 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 warld o’er
Shall brithers be for a’ that.

Brothers and Sisters for a that – – –

1 thought on “The Times Ain’t a-Changin

  1. So we all say. But people with money are more fun to know. People with less are slighted, if not positively insulted. Behavior has consequences. The longer we’ve had less, while knowing ourselves to be the same people we were when we had more, the lower our opinion of anyone whose attitude is less than a positive grovel of “It’s so awesome that you’re still willing to LET me support what you do with money, no matter how much of your contempt I have earned. Please, please, may I buy $500 worth?” No, nobody can reasonably be expected to snap back to liking, trusting, or respecting a person who’s disrespected us, don’t even let your mind go there. THEY say when the arrogant have grovelled long enough.

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