01/01/2025
“Auld Lang Syne” is a poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 to the tune of a traditional folk song. Well known to bid farewell to the old year at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve. It is also sung at funerals, graduations, and as a farewell or ending to important occasions.
The poems’ Scots title may be translated into standard English as “old long since” or, more idiomatically, “long long ago”, “days gone by”, or “old times”.
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
Illustration:
John Masey Wright & John Rogers
c. 1841
❣️✌️💫
