Wham will we send to London town,
To Parliament, & a' that,
Wha maist in a' the country round,
For worth & sense may fa' that. ----
For a' that & a' that,
Thro' Galloway & a' that,
Whilk is the Laird, or belted Knight,
That best deserves to fa' that.
2
Wha sees Kirouchtree's open yett,
And wha is 't never saw that,
Or wha e'er wi' Kirouchtree met
That has a doubt of a' that
For a' that & a' that,
Here's Heron yet for a' that;
The independant Patriot,
The Honest Man & a' that. ----
3
For Tho' wit & worth, in either sex,
Saint Mary's Isle can shaw that;
Wi' Lords & Dukes let Selkirk mix,
For weel does Selkirk fa' that. ----
For a' that & a' that,
Here's Heron yet for a' that;
An independant Commoner
Maun bear the gree & a' that. ----
To paughty Lordlings shall we jouk,
And it against the law, that:
For even a Lord may be a gowk,
Tho sprung frae kings & a' that. --
For a' that & a' that,
Here's Heron yet for a' that;
A lord may be a lousy loun,
Wi' ribband, star & a' that. ----
5
Yon beardless boy comes o'er the hills,
Wi's uncle's gowd, & a' that:
But we'll hae ane frae 'mang oursels
A man we ken & a' that. ----
For a' that & a' that,
Here's Heron yet for a' that;
We are na to be bought the market come
Like nowt & naigs & a' that. ----
6
If we are to be knaves & fools,
And bought & sauld & a' that,
A truant callan frae the schools
It's ne'er be said did a' that.
For a' that, & a' that,
Here's Heron yet for a' that;
And Master Dicky, thou shalt get
A gird & stick to ca' that. ----
![](https://ciim-data.nts.org.uk/media/iiif/3/pf%2F2%2F1%2F40%2F373%2FNTSBRNp06251.ptif/full/!640,640/0/default.jpg)
Key details
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/02/81
- Alt. number
- 3.6236
- Date
- 1795
- On display
- No
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/02/81
- Alt. number
- 3.6236
- Date
- 1795
- On display
- No
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
Description
The Heron Ballads' by Robert Burns. This is the first of four satirical ballads written on behalf of Partick Heron of Kerroughtree (1736-1803) 6 eight-line verses.
This is one of four works known collectively as the Heron Ballads which Burns wrote in support of the Whig party candidate Patrick Heron. Patrick Heron (1736 - 1803) was the party's candidate for the 1795 Parliamentary by-election for the Stewarty of Kirkcudbright.
The ballad, which celebrates 'Kirrochtree's Laird' against the Tory opponent Thomas Gordon of Balmaghie, is set to the tune of For a' that and a' that. Heron subsequently won the election.
Archive information
Themes
Hierarchy
-
Robert Burns, collection of poems and songs
(
a sub-fonds is a subdivision in the archival material)
- The Heron Ballads