Wishing Our Readers & Supporters A Happy & Prosperous New Year In 2020.

Let’s Drink a Toast to Days Gone By!

“Auld Lang Syne,” is a song posing a rhetorical question and whose well-known melody is synonymous with each New Year’s Eve. This Scots-language poem, later set to the tune of a traditional folk song, was first published by poet Robert Burns, which he attributed to having obtained from an old man, but noting that it was a traditional Scottish song.

Translated literally, ‘Auld Lang Syne’ means ‘old long since’, or for ‘olden times’, and is traditionally used to bid farewell to the old year; at the stroke of midnight on each New Year’s Day. The International Scouting movement in some countries also use this musical refrain to close their large gatherings at national or international levels.

Lyrics hereunder, attempt to translate from the lesser known old Scottish dialect.

Auld Lang Syne

Written by Scottish Poet Robert [“Rabbie”] Burns in 1788

Should auld (old) acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne? (old times)
Chorus:
For auld lang syne, my jo, (my dear),
for auld lang syne,
we’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
And surely ye’ll be (buy) your pint-stoup! (Cup)
and surely I’ll be (buy) mine!
And we’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne. [Repeat Chorus]
We twa hae (We two have) run about the breas (the slopes).
and pou’d the gowans fine; (and picked the daisies fine)
But we’ve wander’d mony (many) a weary fit, (weary foot),
sin’ (since) auld lang syne. [Repeat Chorus]
We twa hae paidl’d in the burn, (two have paddled in the stream),
frae morning sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d (broad have roared)
sin’ (since) auld lang syne. [Repeat Chorus]
And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere! (friend)
and gie’s (give me a hand) o’ thine!
And we’ll tak’ a right gude-willie waught, (a good-will draught)
for auld lang syne. [Repeat Chorus]