|
![]() January 25th, 1759 – July 21st, 1796 |
Reason #4 - Many of his songs and poems are actually re-writes of popular folk music of his time. For example, a song entitled "Auld Lang Syne" was published long before his, yet it's Burns who gets credit since his re-write was so much superior to the original. So, it's not like Burns didn't himself engage in a significant amount of re-writing.With all this in mind, we hope Burns purists will forgive our edits & re-writes. We suspect Burns would.
For instance:
"A Man's a Man for A' That"
(As written by Robert Burns, 1795)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 hodding grey, an a' that?
Gie fools their silk, and knaves their wine -
A man's a man for a' that.
For a' that, an 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 cuif 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 coming yet for a' that,
That man to man, the world, o'er
Shall brithers be for a' that."A Man's a Man For All That"
Burns as edited by Larry Carter, 2003
All Rights ReservedBut for honest poverty,
A man's a man for all that.
The lowly slave you pass by
He could be you for all that.
For all that, and all that,
He could be you for all that.
The lowly slave you pass by
A man's a man for all that.And though on simple food we dine
Wear woolen grey, and all that.
Give fools their silk, knaves their wine
Their dignities and all that.
For all that, and all that,
Dignities and all that.
Fools in silk, knaves in wine
A man's a man for all that.And see yon knave they call a lord,
He struts and stares, and all that.
Though hundreds worship at his word
He's still a fool for all that.
For all that, and all that.
He's still a fool for all that.
Though hundreds worship at his word
A man's a man for all that.So let us pray that come what may
As come it will for all that.
That sense and worth o'er all the earth
Shall come to pass for all that.
For all that, and all that,
Come to pass for all that.
Sense and worth o'er all the earth,
Shall brothers be for all that.
Again, as POETRY we greatly prefer the original. As a SONG, however, we believe the shorter length and greater repetition (that is, turning the last half of each stanza into a chorus) aids in listeners understanding Burns' intent. At least that's our story, and we're sticking by it.If YOU decide to use our versions, please let me know first and credit appropriately. Thanks.
Larry & Cordelia, Forest Green, 2008
www.ForestGreenMusic.Com
![]()
Lawrence Scottish Fest is another
"Lawrence Old Guard" Production![]()
You are visitor
![]()
since January 1st, 2004