'Auld Lang Syne' Song Lyrics, Meaning And Everything You Need To Know About The Popular New Year's Eve Song
By Carey Vanderborg@CareyDrew2 on December 31 2012 3:07 PM
Among the many traditions that come with ringing in the new year, the singing of “Auld Lange Syne” has become a staple of every gathering.
While “Auld Lange Syne” was originally a Scots poem written by Robert Burns in 1788, it was eventually set to the tune of a traditional folk song. The title of the Scottish tune translates to "times gone by" and is about remembering friends from the past and not letting them be forgotten.
Now, at the conclusion of almost every New Year's celebration, partygoers join hands with the person next to them to form a great circle around the dance floor. At the beginning of the last verse, everyone crosses their arms across their breast, so that the right hand reaches out to the neighbor on the left and vice versa.
When the tune ends, everyone rushes to the middle, while still holding hands. When the circle is re-established, everyone turns under the arms to end up facing outward with hands still joined.
Over the years, “Auld Lang Syne” has taken on a life of its own as musicians put their own spin on the traditional New Year's jaunt.
As the jam band Phish returns to Madison Square Garden in New York City for a four-show New Year's Eve run to close out 2012, the band will continue to play their rendition of “Auld Lang Syne” as they have done since 1989.
As Phish rings in the New Year, the tune is often accompanied by thrillingly bizarre acts that tend to change every year. Perhaps one of their most notable renditions of the song came during a 1995 New Year's run, when the band acted out their roles as curators of the Gamehendge Time Factory, a machine without which the world would remain frozen in time. At midnight, the Frankenstein-like machinery on stage was activated.
As well as celebrating the New Year, “Auld Lang Syne” is very widely used to symbolize other "endings/new beginnings" – including farewells, funerals, graduations, the end of a part, the election of a new government and even the closing of a retail store.
The melody is also widely used for other words, especially the songs of sporting and other clubs, and even national anthems.
Here are the lyrics to "Auld Lang Syne." Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot, and old lang syne?
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.
We two have run about the slopes, and picked the daisies fine;
But we've wandered many a weary foot, since auld lang syne.
We two have paddled in the stream, from morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared since auld lang syne.
And there's a hand my trusty friend! And give us a hand o' thine!
And we'll take a right good-will draught, for auld lang syne.

What Does New Year’s Eve Song Lyrics 'Auld Lang Syne' Mean 2014?
By Maria Vultaggio@mariamzzarellam.vultaggio@ibtimes.com on December 31 2013 5:27 PM

Confetti being dropped in Times Square during the New Year's celebration. Reuters
Should old acquaintance be forgot and something, something, something. Chances are, most people know the tune of the New Year’s song “Auld Lang Syne,” but practically no one knows more than the first few words or what it even means. The fact that many people have consumed a decent amount of alcohol by the time “Auld Lang Syne” is played at midnight Jan. 1 probably doesn’t help either. But for those who are curious what they’ll be singing later, continue reading.
According to Scotland.org, Scottish poet Robert Burns wrote the lyrics to “Auld Lang Syne.” The beloved song can be heard from Brooklyn to Bangkok, but the familiar melody is not the one Burns knew. But what does it mean? The site notes that while the song references the love and kindness that was experienced in the past, it also gives listeners a sense of union and belonging to bring with them into the future. Quite fitting, eh?
According to the Examiner, “auld lang syne” is Scots for “old long ago.” But in the way its used in the song, it essentially means the “good old days.”
And now you can finally sing the right lyrics:
Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot, and old lang syne?
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.
We two have run about the slopes, and picked the daisies fine;
But we've wandered many a weary foot, since auld lang syne.
We two have paddled in the stream, from morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared since auld lang syne.
And there's a hand my trusty friend! And give us a hand o' thine!
And we'll take a right good-will draught, for auld lang syne.
Happy New Year!
The Meaning of Auld Lang Syne

Every New Year's Eve, people sing one of the most popular songs of all time - “Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?", but don't think too much about the song's meaning. We're too busy ringing in the New Year to care. But "Auld Lang Syne" has a great history, one that we should learn.

The lyrics were originally published as a Scottish poem in 1788 by Robert Burns and set to the tune of a traditional folk song. The words Auld Lang Syne literally translates from old Scottish dialect meaning old long-ago or old long-since. The context of the song is about love and friendship in past times.

A modern day translation would be for old times' sake or to the good old days. In Scotland, in addition to New Year's Eve, it is also sung on Burns Night, January 25th, to celebrate the life of the famous author and poet. The lyrics are more of a collection of works than a single composition. It shows some similarity to James Watsons's Old Long Syne printed in 1711. Burns' version builds on earlier works. Poems and songs with somewhat similar text have been found dating back as far as anonymous ballad in the Bannatyne Manuscript of 1568.

Another version, the first that contains a form of the 'auld lang syne' phrase, is attributed to the courtly poet Sir Robert Ayton (1570 - 1638). Most of the poem though, was credited to Burns. Singing the song to celebrate the New Year (Hogmanay in Scotland) quickly became a Scots custom and was spread to the rest of the world.

Some countries that sing Auld Lang Syne at midnight on New Year's day include the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore, India and Pakistan. In other countries, it is sung in different occasions. In Brazil, Portugal, France, Spain, Greece, Poland, and Germany, this song is used to mark a farewell. The tune of the song is another story. The melody alone is being used in different contexts all over the world. In the US, it is used as a song of remembrance during 9-11 memorials and other memorial events. A pub variation of the song is a very popular one too, and is sung in pubs across Scotland, England, and the US.

Within the US, the song is associated with bandleader Guy Lombardo - who heard the tune and couldn’t get it out of his head and arranged the piece for his orchestra in 1929. After that, whenever Lombardo performed at a New Year’s Eve event, he would play “Auld Lang Syne” around midnight, cementing the song as a yearly institution that helps to usher in each year.

Here are the original words to Auld Lang Syne with the translated English meaning. Let's not just sing the words, but recognize the historical significance of the words and allow ourselves to sing with our hearts by commemorating friendships we've had through the years. May we always be grateful for those close to us and keep the bond between us and them throughout the year.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne.

(Should old acquaintances be forgotten)
(and never remembered)
(Should old acquaintance be forgotten)
(For old long ago)

Chorus:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

(For old long ago, my dear)
( For old long ago)
(We will take a cup of kindness yet)
(For old long ago)

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 you will pay for your pint-vessel)!
(And surely I will pay for mine!)
(And we will take a cup of kindness yet,)
(For old long past.)

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 two have run about the hills)
(and pulled the daisies fine)
(but we've wandered many a weary foot)
(since old long ago)

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.

(We two have paddled in the stream)
(from morning sun (noon) until dinner-time)
(but seas between us broad have roared)
(since old long ago)

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.

(And there is a hand my trusty friend)
(And give me a hand of yours)
(And we will take of a good drink/toast)
(For old long ago)