Auld Lang Syne is traditionally sung to bid farewell to the old year at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve. It is also often heard at funerals, graduations, and as a farewell or ending to other occasions. Although the text is a Scots-language poem written by Robert Burns in 1788, it’s based on an older Scottish folk song. In 1799, it was set to a traditional tune, which has since become standard. The poem’s Scots title translated into standard English as “old long since” or, less literally, “long long ago”, “days gone by”, “times long past” or “old times.”
For “auld lang syne”, as it appears in the first line of the chorus, loosely translated, it is “for the sake of old times.”
Enjoy the performance of Auld Lang Syne by the Choral Scholars of University College Dublin. Who doesn’t love a red-headed Irish lass with a beautiful voice?! Lyrics are posted below to sing along.
Happy New Year!
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
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,
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.
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.
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.
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.
Chorus
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
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
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.
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.
Chorus
We two have paddled in the stream,
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.
Chorus
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