Who wrote Auld Lang Syne and what are the words? – The Sun | The Sun
IT isn't New Year if you don't hear or partake in a joyful rendition of Auld Lang Syne at the stroke of midnight.
Singing Auld Lang Syne, crossing your arms and joining hands with your friends and strangers alike is a New Year's Day tradition unlike no other.
Why do we sing Auld Lang Syne at New Year?
Pictures of people with their arms crossed, holding hands while singing the words before midnight have become a stereotypical image of ringing in the New Year.
And although it originated in Scotland it is Hollywood that has made Auld Land Syne so popular, using it in many films.
It features in Christmas favourite It's A Wonderful Life as well as in Forrest Gump and Elf.
It gained international popularity on New Year's Eve 1929 when Guy Lombardo and his band played the song on stage at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City which was broadcast on the radio.
It soon became a US tradition.
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What are the words to Auld Lang Syne?
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 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.
(Chorus)
We twa hae run about the braes
And pu'd the gowans fine;
But we've wander'd mony a weary foot
Sin auld lang syne.
(Chorus)
We twa hae paidl'd i' the burn,
Frae mornin' sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin auld lang syne.
(Chorus)
And there's a hand, my trusty fiere!
And gie's a hand o' thine!
And we'll tak a right guid willy waught,
For auld lang syne.
(Chorus)
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And long, long ago.
(Chorus)
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 youll buy your pint-jug!
And surely I'll buy mine!
And we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
For long, long ago.
(Chorus)
We two have run about the hills
And pulled the daisies fine;
But we've wandered manys the weary foot
Since long, long ago.
(Chorus)
We two have paddled in the stream,
From morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared
Since long, long ago.
(Chorus)
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.
(Chorus)
What do the words mean?
Auld Lang Syne translates as “old long since” – basically meaning “a long time ago” or “days gone by”.
"For auld lang syne" therefore means something along the lines of “for old times’ sake”.
The song is all about preserving old friendships and looking back over the years.
This is why it is sung on New Year’s Eve, as it encourages people to remember those who mean the most to them and not to forget their friends of the past as they move forward into the New Year.
When did Robert Burns write the poem?
The name of the composer of Auld Lang Syne has been lost over time, but it is attributed to Scottish national poet Robert Burns.
Burns first wrote down Auld Lang Syne in 1788, but the poem would not appear in print until 1796, shortly after his death.
Burns sent the poem to the Scots Musical Museum in 1788 – but he told them he didn’t actually compose it himself.
He said it was an ancient song which had never been written down before, only passed on by word of mouth.
He is said to have recorded it on paper for the first time after an old man dictated the words to him.
Poems with similar words existed before the time of Robert Burns.
Sir Robert Ayton wrote Old Long Syne, first published in 1711 and is sometimes cited as Burns's inspiration.
The melody of the song existed before the poem.
The English composer William Shield used a similar tune in his opera Rosina, first performed in 1782.
It wasn't until 1799 that the words and tune that we know today, would come together in a compilation published by George Thomson.
In the 19th century it was reprinted many times and eventually became part of the Scottish Hogmanay.
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