New Year's Eve is one of those love-it-or-hate-it holidays. ( I didn't write this, but why would anyone Hate New Year's Eve?). But no matter how you feel about celebrating, odds are you're going to hear "Auld Lang Syne" at least 500 times. There is no escape.
Naturally, Web searches on the song pop like champagne corks on New Year's Eve. Our guess is that folks simply want to know what the song actually means. After all, it's not often that people belt out a tune that they don't really understand. Well, wonder no more. Here's the scoop on the song that is mandatory for one night every year.
According to the good people at TLC, the song is an "extremely old Scottish song that was first written down in the 1700s." The poet Robert Burns often gets credit for the words.
Or at least some of them. People often belt out their own lyrics. A site dedicated to the great poet explains, "In spite of the popularity of 'Auld Lang Syne,' it has aptly been described as 'the song that nobody knows.' As for the the music, it's more of a traditional folk song."
So, what do the words actually mean? Basically, the words "auld lang syne" translate into "for days past," "days gone by," or "for the sake of old times," depending on whom you ask. But no matter what the literal translation is, the sentiment is the same. It's a song that aims to honor the good old days on a night that's all about ringing in the new.
Want to print your own copy of the lyrics so you can sing the real words at the stroke of midnight? Check outRobertBurns.org, and let incorrect lyrics be forgot...
| Old Long Syne, by James Watson (1711) | Burns’ original Scots verse[3] | English translation (minimalist) | Scots pronunciation guide (as Scots speakers would sound) | IPA pronunciation guide[13] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Should Old Acquaintance be forgot,
and never thought upon; The flames of Love extinguished, and fully past and gone: Is thy sweet Heart now grown so cold, that loving Breast of thine; That thou canst never once reflect on Old long syne.
My Heart is ravisht with delight,
when thee I think upon; All Grief and Sorrow takes the flight, and speedily is gone; The bright resemblance of thy Face, so fills this, Heart of mine; That Force nor Fate can me displease, for Old long syne.
Since thoughts of thee doth banish grief,
when from thee I am gone; will not thy presence yield relief, to this sad Heart of mine: Why doth thy presence me defeat, with excellence divine? Especially when I reflect on Old long syne
(several further stanzas)
|
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and days of auld lang syne* ?
And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp !
and surely I’ll be mine ! And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet, for auld lang syne.
We twa hae run about the braes,
and pu’d the gowans fine ; But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit, sin auld lang syne.
We twa hae paidl’d i' the burn,
frae morning sun till dine ; But seas between us braid hae roar’d sin auld lang syne.
And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere !
and gie's a hand o’ thine ! And we’ll tak a right gude-willy waught, for auld lang syne.
|
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ? Should old acquaintance be forgot, and days of old 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.
We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine ; But we’ve wandered many a weary foot, since days of auld lang syne.
We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine† ; But seas between us broad have roared since auld lang syne.
And there’s a hand my trusty friend !
And give us a hand o’ thine ! And we’ll take a right good-will draught, for auld lang syne.
|
Shid ald akwentans bee firgot,
an nivir brocht ti mynd? Shid ald akwentans bee firgot, an ald lang syn*?
An sheerly yil bee yur pynt-staup!
an sheerly al bee myn! An will tak a cup o kyndnes yet, fir ald lang syn.
We twa hay rin aboot the braes,
an pood the gowans fyn; Bit weev wandert monae a weery fet, sin ald lang syn.
We twa hay pedilt in the burn,
fray mornin sun til dyn; But seas between us bred hay roard sin ald lang syn.
An thers a han, my trustee feer!
an gees a han o thyn! And we’ll tak a richt‡ gude-willie-waucht‡, fir ald lang syn.
|
ʃɪd o̜ːld ə.kwɛn.təns bi fəɾ.ɡot,
ən nɪ.vəɾ brɔxt tɪ məin? ʃɪd o̜ːld ə.kwɛn.təns bi fəɾ.ɡot, ən o̜ːl lɑŋ səin?
ən ʃeːr.li jiːl bi juːɾ pəin.stʌup!
ən ʃeːr.li ɑːl bi məin! ən wiːl tɑk ə kʌp ə kəin.nəs jɛt, fəɾ o̜ːl lɑŋ səin.
wi two̜̜ː heː rɪn ə.but ðə breːz,
ən puːd ðə ɡʌu.ənz fəin; bʌt wiːv wɑn.əɾt mʌ.ne ə wiːɾɪ fɪt, sɪn o̜ːl laŋ səin.
wi two̜̜ː heː pe.dlt ɪn ðə bʌɾn,
freː moːɾ.nɪn sɪn tɪl dəin; bʌt siːz ə.twin ʌs bred heː roːrd sɪn o̜lː laŋ səin.
ən ðeːrz ə ho̜ːn, mɑ trʌs.tɪ fiːɾ!
ən ɡiːz ə ho̜ːn ə ðəin! ən wiːl tak ə rɪxt ɡɪd wʌ.lɪ wo̜ːxt, fəɾ o̜lː laŋ səin.
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† dine = "dinner time"
‡ ch = soft throat clearing sound, similar to "lachen" and "Bach" in German
* syne = "since" or "then" - pronounced "sign" rather than "zine".
‡ ch = soft throat clearing sound, similar to "lachen" and "Bach" in German
* syne = "since" or "then" - pronounced "sign" rather than "zine".
