The Poetry of Robert Burns Edited by William Ernest Henley and Thomas F. Henderson |
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BALLAD FIRST |
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 | The Poetry of Robert Burns |  |
BALLAD FIRST
I
Wham will we 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, and a' that,
Thro' Galloway and a' that,
Where is the Laird or belted Knight
That best deserves to fa' that?
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II
Wha sees Kerroughtree's open yett—And wha is 't never saw that?—
Wha ever wi' Kerroughtree met,
And has a doubt of a' that?
For a' that, and a' that,
Here's Heron yet for a' that!
The independent patriot,
The honest man, and a' that!
III
Tho' wit and worth, in either sex,Saint Mary's Isle can shaw that,
Wi' Lords and Dukes let Selkirk mix,
And weel does Selkirk fa' that.
For a' that, and a' that,
Here's Heron yet for a' that!
An independent commoner
Shall be the man for a' that.
IV
But why should we to Nobles jeuk,And it against the law, that,
And even a Lord may be a gowk,
Wi' ribban, star, and a' that?
For a' that, and a' that,
Here's Heron yet for a' that!
A Lord may be a lousy loon,
Wi' ribban, star, and a' that.
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V
A beardless boy comes o'er the hillsWi's uncle's purse and a' that;
But we'll hae ane frae 'mang oursels,
A man we ken, and a' that.
For a' that, and a' that,
Here's Heron yet for a' that!
We are na to be bought and sold,
Like nowte, and naigs, and a' that.
VI
Then let us drink:—‘The Stewartry,Kerroughtree's laird, and a' that,
Our representative to be’:
For weel he's worthy a' that!
For a' that, and a' that,
Here's Heron yet for a' that!
A House of Commons such as he,
They wad be blest that saw that.
| The Poetry of Robert Burns | |