Singing in the New Year

Most of us are familiar with “Auld Lang Syne” as a song for bringing in the new year. The words are attributed to the Scottish poet Robert Burns, but he claimed they were based on an old song. To this day it is unclear if it was all collected material or if some verses were original with him. (See The Burns Encyclopedia at http://www.robertburns.org/encyclopedia/AuldLangSyne.5.shtml).

“Auld Lang Syne” was first published in the Scots Musical Museum near the end of the 18^th Century. You can tell from the words that it wasn’t written to ring in a new year, although that has become its traditional use. Instead, it remembers old friendships. “Auld lang syne” was a common phrase of that day that literally meant “old long since” or, as we are more likely to translate it, “long ago.”

Here are the original words to the song as translated from the Scots version to modern-day English. To retain the character of the poem, the term “auld lang syne” has not been translated. You will notice that the last line of the chorus is missing the commonly sung words “days of,” which were added later to better fit the words to the tune.

Auld Lang Syne

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and never brought to mind?

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and auld 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 of 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 dinner time;

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 of thine!

And we’ll take a right good-will draught,

for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

Happy New Year from IWC.

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The picture at the head of this post is a Currier and Ives print titled “Central Park Winter. The Skating Pond.” The hand-colored lithograph is from 1862 and is based on a painting by Charles Parsons. The picture and the words (and music) to “Auld Lang Syne” are in the public domain because of their age.