Auld Lang Syne, from Family Christmas Online^TM

Robert "Robbie" Burns was a Scottish poet who earned the love of his countrymen by writing about everyday people in a dialect that reflected the the way they spoke. On the other hand, Burns' poem "Auld Lang Syne" may reflect language that was even a little old-fashioned by 18th-century Scot standards. One record says that Burns told a friend he had taken at least part of the song, including the phrase "Auld Lang Syne" down from "an old man's singing." He was of the opinion that the song was ancient.

I don't think that Burns chose any idomatic phrase by accident - rather he knew exactly when and why to go from English into his version of Scottish dialect. For example, we all know that "The best laid plans of mice and men oft go astray." But Robbie Burns actually wrote that they "aft gang aglee," which may imply that, not only do our plans go astray but they also seem to enjoy doing so.

All of this is introduction to the phrase "auld lang syne," which means something like "old times," or, perhaps "long, long ago." Burns seemed enamoured of the idea that he could use this ancient phrase to get across reverence for "days gone by."

The stanzas we know best were first penned by Robbie Burns and published in 1796 after his death. The tune we know best wasn't the tune Burns associated with the words, but another Scottish air, "Can Ye Labour Lea?"

Today in North America, the song is chiefly sung at New Year's Eve (and some of us, sadly, have seldom heard it without a saxophone chorus). But the tune and sometimes the words (or some of the words) are used around the world to celebrate both graduations and funerals, and to pledge undying loyalty to one's college, country, or soccer team.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And days of auld lang syne?
And here's a hand, my trusty friend
And gie's a hand o' thine
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne

There are other verses, some attributed directly to Burns, that seldom get sung or even "translated" today. One example is:

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn, - We two have waded in the stream
Frae morning sun till dine; - From dawn to dinnertime,
But seas between us braid hae roar'd. - But seas between us broad have roared
Sin' auld lang syne. - Since Auld Lang Syne

If you have any corrections or comments you would like to make about this page, please contact me and I will be glad to hear from you. God bless - Paul