On this day in Scotland and around the world we celebrate the birth in 1759 of Scotland’s most famous son, Robert Burns (Rabbie Burns as he is best known in his home country), writer of poetry, songs and ballads. Amongst his many well known works are Auld Lang Syne, and For A’ That and A’ That.
In spite of being a collector and sometime seller of ‘tinsel’, I admire the sentiments expressed in For A’ That and A’ That – the fact that a man (or a woman, I might add) should be judged by their honesty, independence of thought, common sense, self worth and integrity rather than by their wealth or status, “The rank is but the guinea stamp; The man’s the gowd for a’ that.” This song was performed by Sheena Wellington at the opening of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, perhaps celebrating the opportunity to build a more egalitarian society in Scotland. The last lines “That man to man the world o’er Shall brothers be for a’ that” are a hope for a better world where we might all come together in spite of our differences.
Auld Land Syne will be especially poignant this Burns Night, a song to remember family and friends, who we may not have seen for some time or have lost during the pandemic of this past year.
Retromode 