On Burns Day....

[Fedayn]

Now I know he was, a politically speaking I mean, a man of multiple personalities ie A Royalist, A Republican, a Masonic bastard, anti-slave trade and yet a man who profited from slavery , he was an excise man, ie customer and revenue and would be one would hope a PCS member….
A bit of culture on this of all days…..
I read this out at a mates funeral nearly 17 years ago, I liked it then and I still like it now....



And yes I know it’s the English version…..



Why should we idly waste our prime
Repeating our oppressions?
Come rouse to arms!'Tis now the time
To punish past transgressions.
'Tis said that Kings can do no wrong —
Their murderous deeds deny it,
And, since from us their power is sprung,
We have a right to try it.
Now each true patriot's song shall be: —
'Welcome Death or Libertie!'



Proud Priests and Bishops we'll translate
And canonize as Martyrs;
The guillotine on Peers shall wait;
And Knights shall hang in garters.
Those Despots long have trode us down,
And Judges are their engines:
Such wretched minions of a Crown
Demand the people's vengeance!
To-day 'tis theirs. To-morrow we
Shall don the Cap of Libertie!



The Golden Age we'll then revive:
Each man will be a brother;
In harmony we all shall live,
And share the earth together;
In Virtue train'd, enlighten'd Youth
Will love each fellow-creature;
And future years shall prove the truth
That Man is good by nature:
Then let us toast with three times three
The reign of Peace and Libertie!

 

[Santino]

Five Hundred Mile

When I awauken from my rest
I ken ye’ll be there at my breast
When I fare abroad, I ken that thee
Will fare abroad along wi’ me.
When rairin fou and in my cups
I ken ye’ll match me, sup for sup
And if I haver, and speak no matter,
It’s to ye, I’ll gab and yatter.

For anely to proclaim my luve,
Five hundred mile I’d gae.
And to foonder at your door,
I’d walk five hundred mae.

When I’m sweitin wi’ ma trauchle,
It’s for thee that I strauchle.
And when I ha’ my penny-fee,
Near every penny goes to thee.
When hame-throu my journey tak me
If ye be there, then hame’ll dae me.
And if I come an eildit man,
I ken we’ll grow auld, hand in hand.

For anely to proclaim my luve,
Five hundred mile I’d gae.
And to foonder at your door,
I’d walk five hundred mae.

When I’m on ma lane and lanesome,
It’s for want of ye I’m waesome.
When in ma bed I lie a-sleeping,
It’s days with ye that fill ma dreaming.

For anely to proclaim my luve,
Five hundred mile I’d gae.
And to foonder at your door,
I’d walk five hundred mae.

 

[Sue]

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 aboon his might –
Guid faith, he mauna 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 comin yet for a’ that,
That Man to Man the warld o’er
Shall brithers be for a’ that.

 

[Sasaferrato]

The final verse of 'To a mouse' has never been more apt.

Still thou are blest, compared wi’ me!
The present only toucheth thee:
But Och! I backward cast my e’e,
On prospects drear!
An’ forward, tho’ I cannot see,
I guess an’ fear!