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    What Do The Lyrics To Auld Lang Syne Mean

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    The confusion over this famous song in modern times is arguably almost as much of a tradition as the song itself.

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    What Do The Lyrics To Auld Lang Syne Mean

    Uploaded by

    9news
    30K views3 pages
    The confusion over this famous song in modern times is arguably almost as much of a tradition as the song itself.

    Original Title

    What do the lyrics to Auld Lang Syne mean

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    The confusion over this famous song in modern times is arguably almost as much of a tradition as the song itself.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    30K views3 pages

    What Do The Lyrics To Auld Lang Syne Mean

    Uploaded by

    9news
    The confusion over this famous song in modern times is arguably almost as much of a tradition as the song itself.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
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    The passage provides background information about the meaning and origins of the song Auld Lang Syne.

    Auld Lang Syne is a song about remembering friends from the past and not letting them be forgotten.

    The lyrics talk about remembering old friends and experiences from times gone by and forming a circle while singing to symbolize crossing one's heart.

    What Do The Lyrics To Auld Lang Syne Mean?

    The confusion over this famous song in modern times is arguably almost as much of a tradition
    as the song itself. As New Years Eve revelers stumble and mumble through the verses, singing
    the auld lang syne part much louder than the rest of the song lyrics because its really the only
    part they know well, someone always asks what do the words mean?
    The title of the Scottish song, Auld Lang Syne, translates from the Scots dialect literally to Old
    Long Since, but is better understood in modern language as times gone by. The lyrics are
    about remembering friends from the past and not letting them be forgotten. So, for auld lang
    syne means for old time sake. The lyrics are set to the melody of a traditional Scots folk song.
    Despite its strong association with New Years Eve, Auld Lang Syne, written by the famous
    Scots poet Robert Burns in 1788, was never intended to be a holiday song as such. But it
    quickly became popular and started being used for New Years Eve all over the world.
    When the Scottish and their friends gather to sing the song, they also form a circle and hold
    hands and, at the verse, "And there's a hand my trusty fiere! And gie's a hand o thine," cross
    arms and re-join hands. This is said to symbolize the crossing of ones heart. It is not always
    done though.

    Following are the lyrics of Auld Lang Syne in the original Scots, side-by-side with the English
    translation.

    Auld Lang Syne

    Times Gone By

    Should auld acquaintance be forgot,


    And never brought to mind?
    Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
    And days o lang syne!

    Should old acquaintances be forgotten,


    And never brought to mind?
    Should old acquaintances be forgotten,
    And days of long ago!

    Chorus:
    For auld lang syne, my dear
    For auld lang syne,
    Well tak a cup o kindness yet
    For auld lang syne!

    Chorus:
    For times gone by, my dear
    For times gone by,
    We will take a cup of kindness yet
    For times gone by.

    We twa hae run about the braes,


    And pud the gowans fine,
    But weve wanderd mony a weary foot
    Sin auld lang syne.

    We two have run about the hillsides


    And pulled the daisies fine,
    But we have wandered many a weary foot
    For times gone by.

    We twa hae paidlt in the burn


    Frae morning sun till dine,
    But seas between us braid hae roard
    Sin auld lang syne.

    We two have paddled (waded) in the stream


    From noon until dinner time,
    But seas between us broad have roared
    Since times gone by.

    And theres a hand, my trusty fiere,


    And gies a hand o thine,
    And well tak a right guid willie-waught
    For auld lang syne!

    And there is a hand, my trusty friend,


    And give us a hand of yours,
    And we will take a goodwill drink (of ale)
    For times gone by!

    And surely yell be your pint stoup,


    And surely Ill be mine!
    And well tak a cup o kindness yet
    For auld lang syne!

    And surely you will pay for your pint,


    And surely I will pay for mine!
    And we will take a cup of kindness yet
    For times gone by!

    NOTE: Not all of the lyrics are always performed, depending on the occasion and setting.
    Usually, only two verses and choruses are sung: first verse-chorus, last verse-chorus.
    Here is a link to a recording of the song on a Library of Congress website:
    http://www.loc.gov/jukebox/recordings/detail/id/6551/
    Please explore the web for hundreds of other performances of Auld Lang Syne. And, Happy
    New Year! But we wish you friendship throughout the year and for all time.
    Following is some background on Robert Burns. Learn more about the man and his times.

    A Tribute to Robert Burns: Scots Poet and Lyricist


    Robert Burns (January 25, 17591796) was born in Alloway, Scotland. Over his rather
    short lifetime he was many things: a farmer, a tax collector, a
    romantic womanizer, but most of all, a poet. Burns is credited
    with saving the Scots dialect and inspiring thousands of other
    writers, then and now. However, he was not a perfect man and
    perhaps thats why he was and still is a folk hero. He was
    imperfectjust like the rest of us. Driven by a passion for the
    common man, freedom and romance, Burns is credited with
    writing several hundred poems and lyrics to existing and
    original melodies. He wrote with the famed Scots fiddler Niel
    Gow. At the height of his popularity Burns was nothing less
    than an international rock star. He wrote seriously and
    humorously about life, love, women (to be sure), politics,
    religion and mans inhumanity to man.
    The most famous of the works, which are credited to
    him, is undoubtedly Auld Lang Syne (Old Long Since). The
    song speaks of friendship and it wasnt originally intended for
    use on New Years Eve alone, but it became that over time. It
    has been translated into 41 languages and is performed all over the world on New Years Eve
    (and at other times). It has been performed by
    hundreds of artists including Jimi Hendrix (yes,
    that Jimi Hendrix), Elvis Presley (a proud
    Scottish-American), Bobby Darin, Billy Joel,
    Boney M, Guy Lombardo (of course), Mariah
    Carey, Pink Martini, Rod Stewart (a Scotsman
    who just happened to have been born in
    England), Kenny G, Lisa Lambe, Shirley Temple
    (another
    proud
    Scottish-American),
    and
    Barenaked Ladies (how appropriate!). Bob
    Dylan has cited Burns as his most significant
    influence. Abraham Lincoln read and quoted
    Burns all his life. ALS has been used in
    numerous films and television productions, and
    several plays and films about Burns life have
    been made over the years.
    Fans all over the world celebrate his
    memory on or around his birthday, January
    25th. Burns Suppers, as they are called, such
    as the one presented by the Scottish St. Andrew
    Society of Colorado since 1963, gather people
    together to recite and sing his works. Some of
    the most popular include The Selkirk Grace, Address to the Haggis, Tam o Shanter, My Love Is
    Like a Red, Red Rose and The Deils Awa Wi The Exciseman.
    Many statues of Burns have been erected all over the world. In 1905, the Caledonian
    Club erected one of him in Denver City Park. Burns was required reading in Denver Public
    Schools up until 1950and it should probably still be required.

    For Auld Lang Syne

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