It's coming yet for all that!

Here in Scotland (and in many places across the world), today we celebrate our national poet, Robert Burns, who was born on this day in 1759.
You'll probably be familiar with 'Auld lang syne' which is sung at the turn of the year, but if you haven't discovered his other works, then you'll be pleasantly surprised if you do.
Here is the poem 'A man's a man for a' that' (scroll down for a translation and a link to this poem sung at the opening of the Scottish Parliament in 1999.  Brings a tear to my eye every time!)

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 abon his might,
Gude faith, he maunna 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 brothers be for a' that.

Here is a video of Sheena Wellington singing this wonderful song at the opening of the Scottish Parliament in 1999. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anYHBwOF2cY

and a translation of the old Scots words:

Is there anybody honest but poor
That cringes because of his poverty?
The coward slave of his own pride-we pass him by,
We dare be poor for all that!
For all that, and all that.
Our toils obscure and all that,
The rank is but the face stamped on the coin,
The Man's the gold for all that.
(Burns is saying a man’s value, his true gold, is his character, not his wealth or social class)

What though on homely fare we dine,
Wear tweed grey, an' a that;
Give 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, though ever so poor,
Is king o' men for a' that.
(A man’s honesty is more important than his appearance, his clothes or the food he eats.)

Ye see yonder dandy, called a lord,
Who struts, an' stares, an' a' that;
Though hundreds worship at his word,
He's but a idiot 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 man who can think for himself is worth more than the fancy, strutting, idiot who has the title of Lord.)

A prince can make a belted (sash) knight,
A marquis, duke, an' a' that; But an honest man's above his might,
Good faith, he mustn’t fault 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.
(Dignity, honesty, goodness, and self-respect are worth more than the empty titles handed out by Princes.)
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 take the prize, 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 brothers be for a' that.
(The song ends with a plea that mind and character should be the standard for judging men, not their wealth or position.)

Yes, it's coming yet!