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
And found his cods were growing cauld
Could not refrain for a' that
For a' that an' a' that
To keep him warm an' a' that
The daughters o' Jerusalem
Were waled for him an' a' that.
King Solomon, prince o' divines
Wha proverbs made an' a' that
Baith mistresses an' concubines
In hundreds had for a' that
For a' that an' a' that
Tho' a preacher wise an' a' that
The smuttiest sang that e'er was sung
His Sang o' Sangs is a' that.
Then still I swear a clever chiel
Should kiss a lass an' a' that
Tho' priests consign him to the deil
As reprobate an' a' that
For a' that an' a' that
Their canting stuff an' a' that
They ken nae mair wha's reprobate
Than you or I for a' that.
Glossary for sassenachs:
mim-mou'd . . . . . . prim mouthed
langsyne saunts . . . .olden-time saints
cods . . . . . . . . .cods
waled . . . . . . . . .chosen
chiel . . . . . . . . .lad