The De’il in the Box

or

(Rabbie Burns on ‘Television’)

The gift o’ sight an sound at wance,

A box tae muckle free ye,

Tae keep yer whim at your delight

The De’il wants to free ye.

Chorus:

            For a’ that, and a’ that,

            The De’il sneers for a’ that:

            The bonnie scene that I loe best

            She’ll be my ain for a’ that.

The dish was set the air was still,

The stars were shot an’ a’ that;

The fox was howling on the hill,

In my wee box for a’ that:

            For a’ that, and a’ that,

            The De’il sneers for a’ that:

            The bonnie scene that I loe best

            She’ll be my ain for a’ that.

All this. I saw in one small box

The cable was hissing an a’ that;

A’ glint an startle for my delight

In my wee box an’ a’ that:

            For a’ that, and a’ that,

            The De’il sneers for a’ that:

            The bonnie scene that I loe best

            She’ll be my ain for a’ that.

An' in my house at hame to see;

I cast my view an’ a’ that;

What sick'ning scenes appear to me

On a tiny screen an’ a’ that.

            For a’ that, and a’ that,

            The De’il sneers for a’ that:

            The bonnie scene that I loe best

            She’ll be my ain for a’ that.

O’ wad some power the giftie gie

To see oursels an’ a’ that;

But telly comes jist as a curse

Wie warts an’ a’ an’ a’ that.

            For a’ that, and a’ that,

            The De’il sneers for a’ that:

            The bonnie scene that I loe best

            She’ll be my ain for a’ that.

It makes ye want tae blow it out

The candle light an’ a’ that;

Tae grind the wheel up tae a stop

An damn the De’il an’ a’ that

            For a’ that, and a’ that,

            The De’il sneers for a’ that:

            The bonnie scene that I loe best

            She’ll be my ain for a’ that.