Auld Lang Syne

                                                 Auld Lang Syne

Rober Burns is credited as the author of this song. However, there is a trail of history that attributes the song to being written by others. 

The lyrics were first in the Scots' language. The title is Old Lang Since in English. The words could also be interrupted as Since Long Ago and For Old Times' Sake.

The song does not mention the new year. 

The words were written in 1788 but not published until 1796, after Robert Burns's death. Burns said he heard the song "from an old man's singing." 

Sir Robert Ayton wrote a poem entitled Old Long Syne, published in 1711. Allan Ramsay published a poem in 1720 with the line "Should auld acquaintance be forgot."

William Shield composed the melody for his opera Rosina, performed in 1782. Another version was published in 1792.

In 1799, words and melody appeared together in a Scottish song. In the 19th century, it became a song for the Scottish Hogmanay (New Year's celebration).

Scottish Version                                                                                         English Version

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,                                     Should old acquaintance be forgot,

And never brought to mind?                                                And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,                                    Should old acquaintance be forgot,

And auld lang syne?                                                             And old lang syne?

(Chorus)                                                                                (Chorus)

For auld lang syne, my jo,                                                    For auld lang syne, my dear,

For auld lang syne,                                                                 For auld lang syne,

We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,                                           We'll take a cup of kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.                                                              For auld lang syne.

And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp!                                   And surely you'll buy your pint cup!

And surely I'll be mine!                                                     And surely I'll buy mine!

And we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,                                  And we'll take a cup o' kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.                                                             For auld lang syne.

We twa hae run about the braes                                       We two have run about the slopes,

And pu'd the gowans fine;                                                And picked the daisies fine;

But we've wander'd mony a weary foot                           But we've wandered many a weary foot,

Sin auld lang syne.                                                           Since auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl'd i' the burn,                                       We two have paddled in the stream,

Frae mornin' sun till dine;                                               From morning sun till dine;

But seas between us braid hae roar'd                               But seas between us broad have roared

Sin auld lang syne.                                                            Since auld lang syne.

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!

And we'll tak a right guid willy waught,                           And we'll take a right good-will draught,

For auld lang syne.                                                             For auld lang syne. 

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Auld Lang Syne

                                                   Auld Lang Syne

Different versions of the words for the song "Auld Lang Syne" have been around since 1711 and are attributed to Sir Robert Ayton. The melody was first composed by William Shield to use in his comic opera Rosina in 1782. It was in 1799 that the words and melody were put together. Robert Burns, the national poet of Scotland, is credited with the fusion of words and music. 

The words were in the Scottish language. Auld Lang Syne means in English "Old Long Since" and is also interpreted as "since long ago" or "for old times' sake."  

In the 19th century, it became part of the Scottish Hogmanay or (New Year's celebration).   Traditionally the people sing the song while holding hands and standing in a circle. 

The Scottish version is:                                            The English version is:

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,                         Should old acquaintance be forgot,

And never brought to mind?                                      And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,                          Should old acquaintance be forgot,

And auld lang syne?                                                   And old lang syne?

(Chorus)                                                                      (Chorus)

For auld lang syne, my jo,                                           For auld lang syne, my dear,

For auld lang syne,                                                       For auld lang syne,

We'll take a cup o' kindness yet,                                   We'll take a cup of kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.                                                         For auld lang syne.

And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp!                               And surely you'll buy your pint cup!

And surely I'll be mine!                                                    And surely I'll buy mine!

And we'll take a cup of kindness yet,                             And we'll take a cup o' kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.                                                          For auld lang syne.

We twa have run about the braes                                        We two have run about the slopes,

And pu'd the gowans fine;                                                   And picked the daisies fine;

But we've wander'd a weary foot                               But we've wandered many a weary foot,

 Sin auld lang syne.                                                                   Since auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl'd i' the burn,                                            We two have paddled in the stream,

Frae mornin' sun till dine;                                                    From morning sun till dine;

But seas between us braid hae roar'd                           But seas between us broad have roared

Sin auld lang syne.                                                          Since auld lang syne.

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!

And we'll take a right guid willy waught,                 And we'll take a right good-will draught,

For auld lang syne.                                                             For auld lang syne.

The song became popular when Guy Lombardo's band, the Royal Canadians, played it on December 31, 1929, on the radio and later on television.

There are many versions of this song today. Robert Burns's, in his various manuscripts of this song, are not worded exactly the same either. 

If you notice, some words need to be more grammatical or spelled correctly. This is on purpose. 

This information is from the Encyclopaedia Britannica, published May 19, 2017.

Please, everyone, have a safe New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. May God Bless us with good health during the holiday and all the new year.