Made in Scotland -- Auld Lang Syne

If you stayed awake until midnight last night, you almost certainly either heard or sang a Scottish tune: Auld Lang Syne. The original lyrics are in Scots -- which, depending on your linguistic criteria, is either a language or dialect from the lowlands of Scotland -- and versions date back to at least the 15th century. The musical tune has changed over the years, as the lyrics have been set to different folk songs.

The current lyrics of Auld Lang Syne are usually ascribed to Scotland's "national poet," Robert Burns. His version is from 1788; he sent a copy to a music publisher in 1793. But Burns said he merely transcribed the lyrics from an old man singing. Burns often altered or improved upon old verses he came across, so he likely polished at least some of the lyrics.

Robert Burns, 1787 portrait by Alexander Nasmyth

Here is the Burns version:

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 take a cup o' kindness yet, 
For auld lang syne.

     CHORUS

We twa hae run about the braes, 
And pou'd the gowan fine; 
But we've wander'd mony a weary fitt, 
Sin' auld lang syne.

     CHORUS

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn,
Frae morning 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 gude-willie-waught, 
For auld lang syne.

     CHORUS

The literal translation of "auld lang syne" is "old long since" or "old long ago." But more colloquial translations are "long long ago" or "days gone by" or "back in the old days." Outside of Scotland, the usual English version of Auld Lang Syne is a combination or pastiche of Burns' Scots lyrics and modern English translations.

As Scottish emigrants moved to the U.S., Canada, Australia, and elsewhere -- in what is sometimes called the Scottish diaspora -- they brought Auld Lang Syne with them. During the U.S. Civil War, the Union commanders tried to restrain or ban the song because they feared troops would respond to its sentiment and desert to return home. On the first Christmas during World War I, British and German troops enjoyed a daylong truce and sang the tune together.

Movies and television helped popularize the song in movies, such as at the end of both It's a Wonderful Life and When Harry Met Sally. New Year's Eve broadcasts in the U.S. on CBS, led by Canadian Guy Lombardo, played the tune each year until it became a tradition. Dick Clark picked up the tradition after Lombardo died, and now it's standard fare in Times Square.

Although people tend to drape or link arms at the beginning of the song, it's not until the last verse that you're supposed to cross your arms and grab your neighbors' hands in a circle:

And there's a hand, my trusty fiere!     (And there's a hand, my trusty friend!)

And gie's a hand o' thine!               (And give me a hand o' thine!)

Then, of course, -- these are Scots, after all -- you're supposed to "tak a right gude-willy waught," which means drink a goodwill draft together.

While you probably hear Auld Lang Syne only once a year on New Year's Eve, in Scotland the tune is often played at the end of a céilidh (folk music and dancing), on Burns Night (January 25), and at the conclusion of Edinburgh's Military Tattoo in August. It's generally sung by the entire crowd, in the Scots language version by Burns. Last night we had a nationwide singing of Auld Lang Syne. Well, a televised one, anyway.

Fireworks in Edinburgh last night. (Photo courtesy of the Daily Record.)

There are only five handwritten copies of the lyrics by Burns. The song is so valued by Scotland that one copy is kept hidden within a combination-lock briefcase in a secret location in a library in Glasgow.

Here's an English translation of Auld Lang Syne. I'll bet a pint that you don't know all the lyrics, or even much beyond the first chorus.

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld 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.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot, since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream, from morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend!
And give me a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

I hope you enjoyed a fun Hogmanay (i.e., New Year's Eve) last night, and let me wish you:

HAPPY NEW YEAR!