The Heron Ballads. (Ballad First.)

I.

    Whom will you send to London town,
        To Parliament and a' that?
    Or wha in a' the country round
        The best deserves to fa' that?
                    For a' that, and a' that;
                    Thro Galloway and a' that;
                    Where is the laird or belted knight
                    That best deserves to fa' that?

II.

    Wha sees Kerroughtree's open yett,
        And wha is't never saw that?
    Wha ever wi' Kerroughtree meets
        And has a doubt of a' that?
                    For a' that, and a' that,
                    Here's Heron yet for a' that,
                    The independent patriot,
                    The honest man, an' a' that.

III.

    Tho' wit and worth in either sex,
        St. Mary's Isle can shaw that;
    Wi' dukes and lords let Selkirk mix,
        And weel does Selkirk fa' that.
                    For a' that, and a' that,
                    Here's Heron yet for a' that!
                    The independent commoner
                    Shall be the man for a' that.

IV.

    But why should we to nobles jouk,
        And it's against the law that;
    For why, a lord may be a gouk,
        Wi' ribbon, star, an' a' that.
                    For a' that, an' a' that,
                    Here's Heron yet for a' that!
                    A lord may be a lousy loun,
                    Wi' ribbon, star, an' a' that.

V.

    A beardless boy comes o'er the hills,
        Wi' uncle's purse an' a' that;
    But we'll hae ane frae 'mang oursels,
        A man we ken, an' a' that.
                    For a' that, an' a' that,
                    Here's Heron yet for a' that!
                    For we're not to be bought an' sold
                    Like naigs, an' nowt, an' a' that.

VI.

    Then let us drink the Stewartry,
        Kerroughtree's laird, an' a' that,
    Our representative to be,
        For weel he's worthy a' that.
                    For a' that, an' a' that,
                    Here's Heron yet for a' that,
                    A House of Commons such as he,
                    They would be blest that saw that.