This edition was prepared by John Brown — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
A man's a man for a' that
Staff Notation • Secular, Folk songs
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A man's a man for a' that by John Brown — Lyrics
Is there for honest poverty
that hangs 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.
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About A man's a man for a' that
John Brown’s setting of Robert Burns’s iconic text celebrates the inherent worth of every individual, regardless of social standing or material wealth. The lyrics champion honesty and integrity over titles and riches, asserting that true value lies in a person's character. This SATB arrangement for mixed voices captures the defiant and egalitarian spirit of the original poem. The English text powerfully conveys the message that a person's true worth—their 'gowd'—outshines any societal 'stamp'. It's a stirring anthem for equality and self-respect, suitable for bringing a message of universal human dignity to any concert programme.
