In sentimental American movies, Robert
Burns' Auld Lang Syne is sung by crowds at the big New Year finale. In Bangkok
and Beijing it is so ubiquitous as a song of togetherness and sad farewells,
they presume it must be an old Thai or Chinese folk song; while in France it is
the song which eases the pain of parting with the hope that we will all see
each other again - Oui, nous nous reverrons, mes frères, ce n'est qu'un au
revoir.
Auld Lang Syne is one of Scotland's gifts to the world, recalling the
love and kindness of days gone by, but in the communion of taking our
neighbours' hands, it also gives us a sense of belonging and fellowship to take
into the future.
It is one of the many folk songs from
the great Lowland Scots tradition collected and fashioned by the pen of one of
the world's greatest songwriters. Burns devoted the last years of his life to
the song tradition, and often a mere fragment from some old ballad was
transformed by his alchemy into a memorable love song or Scots poem. With Auld
Lang Syne, though, the brilliance was already there; this is the Bard's first
mention of it in a letter to Mrs Dunlop in 1788:
"... Light be the turf on the
breast of the heaven inspired Poet who composed this glorious fragment."
One of the most interesting facts is
that the Auld Lang Syne tune which is sung from Times Square to Tokyo, and has
conquered the world, is not the one Robert Burns put the original words to. The
older tune though is still sung by traditional singers.
It has a more douce, gentle,
nostalgic feel to it than the popular tune a mood evoked by the subtle use of
the traditional air sung by Mairi Campbell in the first Sex and the City movie.
However, whichever tune it is sung to, and wherever in the world it is sung,
Auld Lang Syne retains the great emotional resonance of the original
traditional song of the Scottish people of those days in the distant past. Lets
leave the last word to Burns himself:
"... is not the Scots phrase, 'Auld
Lang Syne', exceedingly expressive - there is an old song and tune which has
often thrilled thro' my soul".
The
words to Auld Lang Syne
Fancy singing along yourself? Here are
the verses of the words to Auld Lang Syne:
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne.
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'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o' 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.
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 pu'd the gowans fine;
But we've wander'd mony a weary foot
Sin auld lang syne.
And pu'd the gowans fine;
But we've wander'd mony a weary foot
Sin auld lang syne.
Chorus
We twa hae paidl'd i' the burn,
Frae mornin' sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin auld lang syne.
Frae mornin' 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 guid willy waught,
For auld lang syne.
And gie's a hand o' thine!
And we'll tak a right guid willy waught,
For auld lang syne.
Chorus
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And long, long ago.
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And long, long ago.
Chorus
And for long, long ago, my dear
For long, long ago,
We'll take a cup of kindness yet,
For long, long ago
For long, long ago,
We'll take a cup of kindness yet,
For long, long ago
And surely youll buy your pint-jug!
And surely I'll buy mine!
And we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
For long, long ago.
And surely I'll buy mine!
And we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
For long, long ago.
Chorus
We two have run about the hills
And pulled the daisies fine;
But we've wandered manys the weary foot
Since long, long ago.
And pulled the daisies fine;
But we've wandered manys the weary foot
Since long, long ago.
Chorus
We two have paddled in the stream,
From morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared
Since long, long ago.
From morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared
Since long, long ago.
Chorus
And there's a hand, my trusty friend!
And give us a hand of yours!
And we'll take a deep draught of good-will
For long, long ago.
And give us a hand of yours!
And we'll take a deep draught of good-will
For long, long ago.
Chorus
Explanation with many thanks to The Official Gateway of Scotland
Picture Credit:Insanity Flows