Burns, Dwynwen and Something Else

I have mentioned that today is Burns Day and St Dwynwen's Day - it is also my Wedding Anniversary. So here is a romantic song, dedicated to Mrs MOF in honour of the occasion, courtesy of Prof Tom Lehrer:



Prof Lehrer is one of the earliest examples of that viral phenomenon that proves that if something is banned it suddenly becomes very, very popular.

Most of Tom Lehrer's work was produced for the US version of TW3 (That Was The Week That Was), the 1960's political satire show that made Sir David Frost a household name on both sides of the pond. Prof Lehrer's popularity in Britain was enhanced when his, now, best known song -Poisoning Pigeons in the Park was banned by the BBC.

The Gaza saga shows, that even after 40+ years, that Aunty still hasn't learned that the best way to give publicity to something she disaproves of is to impose a ban!

Poems & Politics: A Man's a Man For a' that - Burns

As today is not only St Dwynwen's Day but also Burns Day, indeed the 250'th aniversery of the bàird's birth, I think that Burns deserves a Poems and Politics post.

His most political poem is probably A Man's a Man For a' that

Famous for its expression of egalitarian ideas of society, which may be seen as anticipating the ideas of liberalism that arose in the 18th century, and those of socialism which arose in the 19th century.

The song was sung at the opening of the Scottish Parliament, and also at the funeral of Donald Dewar, the original First Minister of Scotland.

The words 'pride o' worth' appear on the crest of the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

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.