Classic Poem

The bonniest lass that ye meet neist,
Gie her a kiss an' a' that,
In spite o' ilka parish priest,
Repentin' stool, an' a' that.
For a' that an' a' that
Their mim-mou'd sangs an' a' that
In time and place convenient,
They'll do't themselves for a' that.

Your patriarchs in days o' yore,
Had their handmaids an' a' that;
O' bastard gets, some had a score,
An' some had mair than a' that.
For a' that an' a' that,
Your Langsyne saunts, an' a' that,
Were fonder o' a bonny lass
Than you or I, for a' that.

King Davie, when he waxed auld,
An's bluid ran thin an' a' that,
An faund his c-s were growin' cauld,
Could not refrain for a' that.
For a' that an' for a' that
To keep him warm an' a' that,
The daughters o' Jerusalem
Were waled for him, an' a' that.

Wha wouldna pity thae sweet dames
He fumbled at, an' a' that,
An' raised their bluid up into flames,
He couldna drown for a' that.
For a' that an' a' that,
He wanted pith an' a' that;
For, as to what we shall not name
What could he do but claw that.