Happy New Year from all of us at Thompson Tutoring! As we are all reflecting on times past, and looking forward to days ahead, we’re presented with the opportunity to discuss the history of the most popular New Year’s tune in the English speaking world, “Auld Lang Syne”. Read on to learn about the origins of the classic song.
Robert Burns, generally considered the national poet of Scotland, first submitted “Auld Lang Syne” for preservation in the Scottish Musical Museum in 1788, with this comment: “The following song, an old song, of the olden times, and which has never been in print, nor even in manuscript until I took it down from an old man.” A poem by James Watson from 1711, titled “Old Lang Syne”, contains a verse and chorus that are substantially similar to Burns’ version, though the remainder of the song is thought to be Burns’ own invention. Older poems by authors including Allen Ramsay and Robert Ayton also contain the phrase “auld lang syne.” In 1799 the lyrics were set to the traditional Scottish folk tune we know today, though prior to that it was often paired with a different melody. The older melody is still performed today in some isolated communities in Scotland.
What of the phrase “auld lang syne” itself? An approximate translation would be “old long since” or “for the sake of times gone by.” The lyrics suggest that old friendships be renewed rather than forgotten. Here are the lyrics in full in the original Scots dialect:
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?[a]
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-stoup!
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 pou’d the gowans fine;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit,
sin’ auld lang syne.
Chorus
We twa hae paidl’d in the burn,
frae morning sun till dine;[b]
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.
Now that a new year has started, what are your resolutions? Maybe it’s time to learn to play a new instrument? There’s never been a better time to begin, so contact Thompson Tutoring today!