Submitted by Belle Auld
Auld Lang Syne
Auld Lang Syne is a very old song – no-one knows who wrote it, but the Scottish poet Robbie Burns is said to be the first person who wrote it down and publicized it in 1788.
From Scotland.org:
“The phrase 'auld lang syne' roughly translates as 'for old times' sake’. It has long been a much-loved Scottish tradition to sing the song just before midnight [New Year’s Eve]. Everyone stands in a circle holding hands, then at the beginning of the final verse ('And there's a hand my trusty friend') they cross their arms across their bodies so that their left hand is holding the hand of the person on their right, and their right hand holds that of the person on their left. When the song ends, everyone rushes to the middle, still holding hands.”
There are 10 verses plus the chorus in Auld Lang Syne – I don’t think anyone in Canada knows all verses. Here are a couple verses plus the chorus:
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 for long, long ago, my dear
For long, long ago,
We'll take a cup of kindness yet,
For long, long ago
And surely you’ll buy your pint-jug!
And surely I'll buy mine!
And we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
For long, long ago.
And there's a hand, my trusty friend!
And give us a hand of yours!
And we'll take a deep draught of good-will
For long, long ago.