For A' That

Scotland.
Words: attributed to Robbie Burns.


The bonniest lass that ye meet neist
Gie her a kiss an' a' that
In spite o' ilka parish priest
Repentin' stool an' a' that
 For a' that an' a' that
 Their mim-mou'd sangs an' a' that
 In time and place convenient
 They'll do't themselves for a' that.

Your patriarchs in days o' yore
Had their handmaids an' a' that
O' bastard gets some had a score
An' some had mair than a' that
 For a' that an' a' that
 Your langsyne saunts an' a' that
 Were fonder o' a bonny lass
 Than you or I for a' that.

King Davie when he waxed auld
An's bluid ran thin an' a' that
And found his cods were growing cauld
Could not refrain for a' that
 For a' that an' a' that
 To keep him warm an' a' that
 The daughters o' Jerusalem
 Were waled for him an' a' that.

King Solomon, prince o' divines
Wha proverbs made an' a' that
Baith mistresses an' concubines
In hundreds had for a' that
 For a' that an' a' that
 Tho' a preacher wise an' a' that
 The smuttiest sang that e'er was sung
 His Sang o' Sangs is a' that.

Then still I swear a clever chiel
Should kiss a lass an' a' that
Tho' priests consign him to the deil
As reprobate an' a' that
 For a' that an' a' that
 Their canting stuff an' a' that
 They ken nae mair wha's reprobate
 Than you or I for a' that.


Glossary for sassenachs:
 mim-mou'd  . . . . . . prim mouthed
 langsyne saunts . . . .olden-time saints
 cods  . . . . . . . . .cods
 waled . . . . . . . . .chosen
 chiel . . . . . . . . .lad