Happy 2017 – And What The Hell Is Auld Lang Syne?!

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Citizens, a happy, healthy and delicious 2017 to all of you! I, the Alpha and the Omega of bold and benevolent leadership, wish you and yours a New Year of peace and dictatorial gastronomic delights and Auld Lang Syne! 🙂

Like me, you’ve probably just sung the first few bars of “Auld Lang Syne”, which has become an absolute tradition in New Year’s Eve celebrations.

We sing the first couple of lines and politely mumble the rest into our champagne glasses. Despite its vast popularity, it’s a song that very few people can actually recite the entirety of. My Citizens deserve better, so here I give you the ACTUAL words!

The song derives from a 1788 Scots poem by the ultimate Scots poet, Robert Burns; now set to the tune of a traditional folk song.

Burns apparently never intended his work to act as a farewell to the old year; it’s a piece which partially reproduces, partially originally pens an older folk tune. He originally sent the piece to the Scots Musical Museum with a note, “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.”

Now, there are several variations of what’s sung on New Year’s Eve; first off, I give you Burns’ original Scots verse if you want to keep things authentic. Below that, a simplified English translation.

Burns’ original Scots 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 jo,
for auld lang syne,
we’lltak’ 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;
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.

English translation

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

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll take a cup of 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;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

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.

CHORUS