Since today just happens to fall on New Year’s Day this year, I thought it appropriate to look into a song I’m sure we’ve all sung. We may have even sung it just a few hours ago.
The song, Auld Lang Syne, is an old Scottish song that was first penned by Robert Burns in 1788. Burns stated in a letter about the song that he sent to the Scot Musical Museum, that it was “an old song of old times”. We think something written in 1788 is old, but Burns states that the song was even older. He goes on to say the song had never before been in print until he took it down from an old man. “Some of the lyrics were indeed “collected” “rather than composed”, he goes on to explain.
But what do the words “auld lang syne” mean, you ask? Good question. It’s old Scottish. Auld lang syne would be directly translated as “old long since.” In today’s English, we would say. “days gone by” or “a long time ago”.
It’s a song of remembrance and even longing for the past. The first line of the first verse is a question. Should we forget our past or the friends we made?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne?
The second line continues the question by adding not just friend but all of the memories of the past. The chorus seems to emphatically state that instead of forgetting the past, we need to remember… never forget and think of it fondly and with kindness.
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.
The second verse is an invitation between friends to drink together and share the memories of the past; much as we would go out with an old friend we hadn’t seen for ages and share stories of our past.
The rest of the song talks of specific times spent together: Times they spent in the fields picking flowers, hours they spent passing whole days on a boat. Each verse ends in noting how long it’s been since those times have passed and years spent apart.
The song closes with a handshake. Friends parting after spending the night, sharing story after story of all they have done together and what those memories have meant to each of them.
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.
To tell the truth, I used to hate this song. It was just a bunch of gibberish that no one knew the words to, or could even explain why we sang it. Tradition. It was tradition and we had to all sing. Not only could they not explain the song, but they didn’t even know the words! We would sing the first line and then blah blah blah the rest, finishing loud and clear with the chorus that we didn’t understand and couldn’t pronounce correctly.
I love this song now… now that I understand its meaning. It even makes me cry. Read it over for yourself and you may end up with tears in your own eyes.
Auld Lang Syne
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
Visits: 43