Auld Lang Syne is the most popular New Year’s Eve song in the English speaking world and elsewhere. Guy Lombardo began the tradition of ringing in the new year with the tune in 1929. He and his band played it on the radio and then counted down till midnight. Every year from then till 1976 Lombardo played it for the occasion, on the radio and later on TV.

Originally, dating back at least to the 1600’s, Auld Lang Syne was a Scottish folk song. Then around 1788, the Scotch poet Robert Burns added two verses and his friend George Thompson put Burn’s lyrics to the tune of another Scottish song The Miller’s Wedding. That’s the version we hear today.

Below are the lyrics to the popular short version of Auld Lang Syne and the longer version based on the Robert Burns Poem, with explanations of the meanings of the Scottish words plus an mp3 recording.

Auld Lang Syne (literally Old Long Since, meaning Old or Way Long Ago)

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

(Chorus)
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne,
We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

And there’s a hand my trusty fiere (friend),
And gie’s (give us) a hand o’ thine
We’ll take a right guid-willie (good will) waught (drink),
For auld lang syne.

(Chorus)

Here’s the longer version of Auld Lang Syne by Robert Burns (1759-1796)…

MP3 of Auld Lang Syne by Ruth Golding

Auld Lang Syne
by Robert Burns

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

(Chorus)
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet
For auld lang syne

We twa (two) hae (have) run about the braes (hillsides)
And pu’d (pulled) the gowans (daisies) fine;
We’ve wander’d mony (many) a weary foot
Sin’ auld lang syne

(Chorus)

We twa hae paidled (waded) i’ the burn (brook),
Frae mornin’ sun till dine (noon);
But seas between us braid (broad) hae roar’d
Sin’ auld lang syne

(Chorus)

And there’s a hand my trusty fiere (friend),
And gie’s (give us) a hand o’ thine
We’ll take a right guid-willie (good will) waught (drink),
For auld lang syne.

(Chorus)

And surely ye’ll be (pay for) your pint-stowp (about a 3 pint cup)!
And surely I’ll be mine!
And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

(Chorus)

Happy New Year’s!

Lisa