Happy Birthday Rabbie Burns

[Mzokk]

A message for our times

A Man's a Man for A' That​

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.

And for the old romantics.

 

[Posh Pete]

Ae fond kiss has to be the most heart breaking song. I prefer Karine Polwart's version of the song (accompanied by her husband on the ivories).

And all because Rab couldn't get his leg over Nancy McElhose. (He did manage to bed her maid though!)

Incidentally, long out of print but still a fine novel / biography of Burns. The Wind that Shakes the Barley.

 

[Posh Pete]

I usually post this version of Now Westlin' Winds on Burns' Night. Burns knew more about nature and the seasons as much as any of the lakeland mob.

 

[Mzokk]

I think I'll have a wee dram to the man tonight . Any excuse

 

[glenn2926]

I think I'll have a wee dram to the man tonight . Any excuse

Aye, me too. Perhaps a malt to start with then blended later.

 

[Hustler]

Haggis here tonight.
We're not Scottish but just seems a good traditional thing to do.
No dram though (and keep this bit quiet) I don't drink alcohol.
I know, the shame, sorry.

And I learnt today that Rabbie Burns youngest was born on the day of his (Rabbie's) funeral.
What are the odds of that happening ?

 

[Northern jock]

Aye, me too. Perhaps a malt to start with then blended later.

Other way round, a blend tastes just fine until you have a malt

 

[glenn2926]

Other way round, a blend tastes just fine until you have a malt

I’ll try it this way this evening.

 

[casbar]

Had Haggis, Neeps and Taties tonight. Really enjoyed it. Not Scottish, but do like Haggis and don't mind a small single malt.

 

[The Other PaulG]

Haggis here tonight.
We're not Scottish but just seems a good traditional thing to do.
No dram though (and keep this bit quiet) I don't drink alcohol.
I know, the shame, sorry.

And I learnt today that Rabbie Burns youngest was born on the day of his (Rabbie's) funeral.
What are the odds of that happening ?

365:1 ?

 

[Hustler]

365:1 ?

Apologies, guess I didn't phrase that very well.

While her husband Rabbie Burns was being buried, his wife Jean was giving birth to his last child, Maxwell.

 

[Posh Pete]

Apologies, guess I didn't phrase that very well.

While her husband Rabbie Burns was being buried, his wife Jean was giving birth to his last child, Maxwell.

Indeed. Jean Armour must have been an exceptional woman. Her parents warned her against Burns - his philandering reputation was well established - but she went ahead with a common law marriage which was legally binding in Scotland. She then bore his children and even took one of his illegitimate children into her own family. Burns had already written a song about the woman, Anna Park, a maid at the Globe Tavern in Dumfries. He really was a selfish bastard. Then again, very talented individuals often seem to share that kind of imperfection. Not that that's an excuse, just a statement of reality.

 

[The Other PaulG]

Apologies, guess I didn't phrase that very well.

While her husband Rabbie Burns was being buried, his wife Jean was giving birth to his last child, Maxwell.

I know, it was a weak attempt at humour. My kids are always telling me to stop it...

 

[Northern jock]

Apologies, guess I didn't phrase that very well.

While her husband Rabbie Burns was being buried, his wife Jean was giving birth to his last child, Maxwell.

She might have waited