Auld Lang Syne by Rabbie Burns

Author: Jax Cassidy // Category:
There was a whole story on Yahoo about most people not knowing the whole lyrics to the infamous Auld Lang Syne song and it got me thinking...I don't know the whole song myself! I just repeat the hook a dozen times. Sad, isn't it? Another funny thing..it was written by an Scotsman. When did it get adapted by Americans? Why did we choose to sing this song? Well, as a tribute to the great Rabbie Burns (aka Robert Burns) who initially wrote this poem, below are the lyrics to help you all out this year! Coincidentally, my lover Gerard Butler(in a parallel universe it would be true)is playing the famous poet in an upcoming movie! Also, if you keep scrolling, there's a handy dictionary of definitions.

Enjoy!

AULD LANG SYNE

Words adapated from a traditional song
by Rabbie Burns (1759-96)

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 tak a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp,
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 monie 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 guid-willie waught,
For auld lang syne

Meanings

auld lang syne - times gone by
be - pay for
braes - hills
braid - broad
burn - stream
dine - dinner time
fiere - friend
fit - foot
gowans - daisies
guid-willie waught - goodwill drink
monie - many
morning sun - noon
paidl't - paddled
pint-stowp - pint tankard
pou'd - pulled
twa - two

4 Responses to "Auld Lang Syne by Rabbie Burns"

EL PADRONE Says :
8:06 AM

Hi Jax,

Sorry to appear out of the blue - just sort of followed the link from Eva's blog and found this.

Auld Lang Syne is actually dying out a bit in the UK particularly in Wales where I live. Didn't really occur to me that you sang it in the States (duh).

Interestingly (or not) the Scots tend to place far more emphasis on celebrating New Years Day rather than New Years Eve (Scottish girlfriend for 3 years a long time ago!).

M.

Jax Cassidy Says :
12:17 PM

I'm glad you made it here. As I'm neither Scottish or English (although I feel like I'm Irish from another life), it's just fascinating how the Americans adopt things. I'm glad you were able to clarify :)

Hope you had a wonderful New Years!

EL PADRONE Says :
4:14 AM

Ireland is fine as long as you have Irish friends to visit. Other than that it's a tourist trap - looks really nice on the TV ads of course but they only show you the nice parts.

M.

L.K. Campbell Says :
12:38 PM

Thanks for posting this. I knew that it was Scottish/Gaelic, but didn't know the exact translation.

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