Hogmanay: Auld Lang Syne

Scotland on Sunday

Few of Scotland's cultural works can match the global impact of Auld Lang Syne.

Robert Burns

Penned by Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns, the familiar music and lyrics have become synonymous with New Year celebrations and ring out gatherings across the globe.

The phrase 'auld lang syne' is literally translated as 'old long since' and was a commonly-used Scots expression of the 18th century which reflected on the need to remember happy times of long ago.

Over time a group dance evolved to accompany the song; participants join hands in a circle and recite each of Burns' verses, before crossing their arms across their breast for the last verse and converging together on the centre of the circle.

The accompanying actions

The song became a feature of Scottish Hogmanay celebrations during early 19th century. As Scots emigrated around the globe, taking their unique Hogmanay customs with them, Auld Lang Syne grew in popularity.

In the United States, the song was already familiar to communities in many parts of the country before it became the signature tune of popular band leader Guy Lombardo in the early 1930s. His use of Auld Lang Syne on radio and television broadcasts brought the piece to the attention of millions of listeners and viewers.

The song's popularity continued to build around the world in the 20th century. Many writers were inspired to use the themes explored by Burns to translate the lyrics into their own language and most nation's now have their own national variation.

In India, Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore penned 'Purano shei diner kotha' (About the Old Days) in Bengali, while Jeppe Aakjaer was inspired to translate the lyrics into a traditional Danish dialect for his work 'Skuld gammel venskab rejn forgo' (Should Auld Acquaintance be Forgot).

In France, 'Ce n'est qu'un au revoir (This is only until we meet again, not goodbye) uses the familiar tune to accompany the French lyrics

Robert Burns popularised the song

Auld Lang Syne's influence spread beyond New Year. The tune was played by the Pakistan Army Band as tearful President Pervaz Musharraf formally stood down as the country's military chief.

In Taiwan, the tune is played at graduations and funerals.

And although today's lifestyles are vastly different to the world of Robert Burns, his inspiration to remember absent friends and happy times is as appropriate now as it was more than 200 years ago.

Burns' verse:

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 dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take 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 take 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 ;
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
sin' auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there's a hand, my trusty fiere !
And gies a hand o' thine !
And we'll tak a right gude-willie-waught,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

English translation

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

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup o' 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 (dinner time);
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

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

CHORUS