“Auld Lang Syne” is a song traditionally sung on New Year’s Eve, just as the year turns. The phrase “auld lang syne,” which is Scots Gaelic, can be translated several ways: “old long since,” “long, long ago,” “days gone by” (you get the idea). It’s a song about endings and remembering the past.
The lyrics were written by the poet Robert Burns. Well, actually, he wrote down a song he’d heard from an old man, and then added to it. Robert Burns, if you aren’t familiar with him, is the national poet of Scotland. He was born on 25 January 1759 and only lived to be 37, but he packed a lot into those few years. My mother used to say that he was the father of Scottish poetry and most of Scotland, too. He had twelve children by four women, only one of whom was his wife. We used to talk about the rock lifestyle of “sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll.” For Robert Burns it was more like “sex, booze, and poetry.”
Through all of those women and child, I am somehow related to Burns. My maternal grandmother’s maiden name was Burns. But, since some of his poetry is quite risqué, she never passed along how she was related. She did not approve of our poet.
Along with more standard poetic forms, like “Address to a Haggis,” he wrote a lot of poems that were intended to be lyrics. (Think “My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose,” or “Charlie, He’s my Darlin’,” a song about Bonnie Prince Charles, made more famous by its use in classic Star Trekwhen sung byUhurain the episode Charlie X.)
Original Scots lyrics:
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?
CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my jo,
for auld lang syne,
we'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
And surely ye'll be your pint-stoup!
and surely I'll be mine!
And we'll tak' a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We twa hae run about the braes,
and pou'd the gowans fine;
But we've wander'd mony a weary fit,
sin' auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We twa hae paidl'd in the burn,
frae morning sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
sin' auld lang syne.
CHORUS
And there's a hand, my trusty fiere!
and gie's a hand o' thine!
And we'll tak' a right gude-willie waught,
for auld lang syne.
CHORUS
Usual translation:
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne?
CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
And surely you'll buy your pint cup!
and surely I'll buy mine!
And we'll take a cup o' kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine;
But we've wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine†;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.
CHORUS
And there's a hand my trusty friend!
And give me a hand o' thine!
And we'll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.
CHORUS
The melody was probably a dance tune from the time. We really don’t know if this was the melody that Burns intended. But, since this is the only melody that is used in Scotland, it seems like a good bet.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
The lyrics were written by the poet Robert Burns. Well, actually, he wrote down a song he’d heard from an old man, and then added to it. Robert Burns, if you aren’t familiar with him, is the national poet of Scotland. He was born on 25 January 1759 and only lived to be 37, but he packed a lot into those few years. My mother used to say that he was the father of Scottish poetry and most of Scotland, too. He had twelve children by four women, only one of whom was his wife. We used to talk about the rock lifestyle of “sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll.” For Robert Burns it was more like “sex, booze, and poetry.”
Through all of those women and child, I am somehow related to Burns. My maternal grandmother’s maiden name was Burns. But, since some of his poetry is quite risqué, she never passed along how she was related. She did not approve of our poet.
Along with more standard poetic forms, like “Address to a Haggis,” he wrote a lot of poems that were intended to be lyrics. (Think “My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose,” or “Charlie, He’s my Darlin’,” a song about Bonnie Prince Charles, made more famous by its use in classic Star Trekwhen sung byUhurain the episode Charlie X.)
Original Scots lyrics:
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?
CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my jo,
for auld lang syne,
we'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
And surely ye'll be your pint-stoup!
and surely I'll be mine!
And we'll tak' a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We twa hae run about the braes,
and pou'd the gowans fine;
But we've wander'd mony a weary fit,
sin' auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We twa hae paidl'd in the burn,
frae morning sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
sin' auld lang syne.
CHORUS
And there's a hand, my trusty fiere!
and gie's a hand o' thine!
And we'll tak' a right gude-willie waught,
for auld lang syne.
CHORUS
Usual translation:
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne?
CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
And surely you'll buy your pint cup!
and surely I'll buy mine!
And we'll take a cup o' kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine;
But we've wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine†;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.
CHORUS
And there's a hand my trusty friend!
And give me a hand o' thine!
And we'll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.
CHORUS
The melody was probably a dance tune from the time. We really don’t know if this was the melody that Burns intended. But, since this is the only melody that is used in Scotland, it seems like a good bet.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
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