Is there any more well-known but misunderstood refrain through the English-speaking word than that of ‘Auld Lang Syne’? It is, of course, the song that, traditionally, we sing at midnight on New Year’s Eve (Hogmanay  if you’re Scottish) to say farewell to the old year and celebrate the new – and you may often hear it sung at other gatherings that involve a sense of departure or beginning, such as a funeral or graduation.

But do you know exactly what you’re singing?

‘Auld Lang Syne’ is a verse by the Scottish poet Robert Burns. ‘Auld Lang Syne’ literally means ‘old long since’, which you can interpret as long ago, days gone by, once upon a time or old times – the words are immaterial; the sense is the same: it is an ode to the bygone time.

We English have modified Burns’ original verse, but I prefer the true Scottish version, which reads as follows:

Should auld [old] acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?


CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my jo [my dear],
for auld lang syne,
we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.


And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp [cup]
and surely I’ll be mine!
And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.


CHORUS


We twa hae [two have] run about the braes[slopes],
and pu’d the gowans [picked the daisies] fine;
But we’ve wander’d mony [many] a weary fit [foot],
sin [since] auld lang syne.


CHORUS


We twa hae paidl’d [two have paddled]i’ the burn [stream],
frae [from] morning sun till dine [dinner time];
But seas between us braid hae roar’d [broad have roared]
sin [since] auld lang syne.


CHORUS


And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere [friend]!
and gie’s [give us] a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll tak [take] a right gude-willy waught [goodwill draught],
for auld lang syne.


CHORUS

In a nutshell, Burns tells us to remember and honour the old times.

The verse and the tune are sung throughout the world at various occasions – usually united, but sometimes separately. For example, in Zimbabwe the tune of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ is used in a funeral farewell song whose chorus is ‘Go well, we will be united in the blood of Christ’. But other than its utterance among my friends and family each New Year’s Eve, I think my favourite use of Burn’s words and the old Scottish folk tune is at the Last Night of the Proms, when the audience joins together to sing. So rousing and joyous and poignant.

Happy New Year to you all.