Auld Lang Syne — it’s the quintessential New Year’s Eve song. But how did it gain that reputation, and where does it come from? What does ‘Auld Lang Syne’ even mean? We were curious to find out, and if you are as well, read on.
‘Auld Lang Syne’ was not originally a song, but a poem written by Scottish author Robert Burns 1788. Burns intended for the poem to be sung along to the tune of a traditional Scottish folk song. Somewhere along the way, the Auld Lang Syne tune changed, yet the older tune is still sung throughout pubs in Scotland and Great Britain by those who wish to preserve the tradition. According to Scotland.org, the original tune has a more “douce, gentle, nostalgic feel to it then the popular tune.” Either way, the words still evoke the same emotions of love, kindness, and friendship to this day.
Just recall how often the tune has turned up in films. Surely everyone can identify with this heartwarming moment at the end of It’s A Wonderful Life when all the townspeople of Bedford Falls come together to literally bail out George Bailey?
In Scotland, the song was sung for the Scottish holiday of Hogmanay (which happens to also fall on New Year’s Eve). The song was popularized in the United States in 1929 when a band director named Guy Lombardo started playing the song on his radio channel and television broadcasts.
But Auld Lang Syne isn’t only popular in American culture. On New Year’s, the song can be heard throughout Bangkok, Beijing and Tokyo. In France, it is treated as a song of hope, sung at funerals and at moments of parting to ease grief and anguish.
No matter where in the world you live, the song’s meaning doesn’t change. “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 neighbor’s hands, it also gives us a sense of belonging and fellowship to take into the future.”
So what does ‘Auld Lang Syne’ mean? According to Yahoo, it means ‘old long since’ or for ‘old time’s sake.‘ The lyrics have changed over time as the song has crossed international borders. For example, here are the words from the original Robert Burns poem:
FIRST VERSE:
Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And days o’ 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.
Now for the way we tend to sing it:
FIRST VERSE:
Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot, and old times since?
CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne,
we’ll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.
For the rest of the lyrics, click here. And Happy 2014!
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