"Auld Lang Syne" is a Scots-language poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song (Roud # 6294). It is well known in many countries, especially in the English-speaking world, its traditional use being to bid farewell to the old year at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve.
The poems's Scots title may be translated into standard English as "old long since" or, more idiomatically, "long long ago", "days gone by", or "old times". Consequently, "For auld lang syne", as it appears in the first line of the chorus, might be loosely translated as "for the sake of old times".
The phrase "Auld Lang Syne" is also used in similar poems by Robert Ayton (1570–1638), Allan Ramsay (1686–1757), and James Watson (1711), as well as older folk songs predating Burns. Matthew Fitt uses the phrase "in the days of auld lang syne" as the equivalent of "once upon a time" in his retelling of fairy tales in the Scots language.
Lyrics:
| Burns' original Scots verse[5] | English translation (minimalist) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and 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.
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.
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.
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.
|
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind? Should old acquaintance be forgot, and old 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.
We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine; But we've wandered many a weary foot, since auld lang syne.
We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine†; But seas between us broad have roared since auld lang syne.
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.
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