Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, FOR A' THAT AN' A' THAT (A NEW SONG TO AN OLD TUNE), by WALTER SCOTT


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

FOR A' THAT AN' A' THAT (A NEW SONG TO AN OLD TUNE), by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Though right be aft put down by strength
Last Line: And win the day for a' that!
Subject(s): Wellesley, Arthur (1769-1852); Wellington, Duke Of


THOUGH right be aft put down by strength,
As mony a day we saw that,
The true and leilfu' cause at length
Shall bear the grie for a' that.
For a' that an' a' that,
Guns, guillotines, and a' that,
The fleur-de-lis, that lost her right,
Is queen again for a' that!

We'll twine her in a friendly knot
With England's rose, and a' that;
The shamrock shall not be forgot,
For Wellington made braw that.
The thistle, though her leaf be rude,
Yet faith we'll no misca' that,
She shelter'd in her solitude
The fleur-de-lis, for a' that.

The Austrian vine, the Prussian pine
(For Blucher's sake, hurra that),
The Spanish olive, too, shall join,
And bloom in peace for a' that.
Stout Russia's hemp, so surely twined,
Around our wreath we'll draw that,
And he that would the cord unbind
Shall have it for his gra-vat!

Or, if to choke sae puir a sot,
Your pity scorn to thraw that,
The devil's elbow be his lot
Where he may sit and claw that.
In spite of slight, in spite of might,
In spite of brags, an' a' that,
The lads that battled for the right
Have won the day, an' a' that!

There's ae bit spot I had forgot,
America they ca' that!
A coward plot her rats had got
Their father's flag to gnaw that:
Now see it fly top-gallant high,
Atlantic winds shall blaw that,
And Yankee loon, beware your croun,
There's kames in hand to claw that!

For on the land, or on the sea,
Where'er the breezes blaw that,
The British flag shall bear the grie,
And win the day for a' that!





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