Robert Burns

The Heron Ballads. First Ballad

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 an’ a’ that!
    		Where is the laird or belted knight
    		That best deserves to fa’ that?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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