I never drank the Muses' stank, But there it streams an' richly reams, For a' that, &c. Great love I bear to a' the fair, In raptures sweet, this hour we meet, For a' that, &c. Their tricks an' craft hae put me daft, But clear your decks, and here's "The Sex!" Chorus For a' that, an' a' that, An' twice as muckle's a' that; Recitativo So sang the bard-and Nansie's wa's They toom'd their pocks, they pawn'd their duds, To quench their lowin drouth: Then owre again, the jovial thrang The poet did request To lowse his pack an' wale a sang, A ballad o' the best; He rising, rejoicing, Between his twa Deborahs, Looks round him, an' found them Impatient for the chorus. Air Tune "Jolly Mortals, fill your Glasses." See the smoking bowl before us, Mark our jovial ragged ring! Round and round take up the chorus, And in raptures let us sing Chorus A fig for those by law protected! What is title, what is treasure, With the ready trick and fable, Does the train-attended carriage Life is all a variorum, We regard not how it goes; Let them cant about decorum, Who have character to lose. A fig for, &c. Here's to budgets, bags and wallets! Chorus A fig for those by law protected! SONG FOR A' THAT' Tune "For a' that." THO' women's minds, like winter winds, Chorus For a' that, an' a' that, And twice as meikle's a' that; Great love I bear to a' the fair, But lordly will, I hold it still But there is ane aboon the lave, A bonie lass, I like her best, And wha a crime dare ca' that? In rapture sweet this hour we meet, Wi' mutual love an' a' that, 1A later version of "I am a bard of no regard" in "The Jolly Beggars." 133 But for how lang the flie may stang, Let inclination law that. For a' that, &c. Their tricks an' craft hae put me daft. But clear your decks, and here's "The Sex!" For a' that, &c. SONG-MERRY HAE I BEEN TEETHIN A HECKLE O MERRY hae I been teethin' a heckle, An' a' the lang day I whistle and sing; Bitter in dool I lickit my winnins O' marrying Bess, to gie her a slave: And blythe be the bird that sings on her grave! Come to my arms, my Katie, my Katie; O come to my arms and kiss me again! THE COTTER'S SATURDAY NIGHT Let not Ambition mock their useful toil, GRAY. My lov'd, my honour'd, much respected friend! |