If you’re like me, you know the first line of that song we sing at midnight on New Year’s Eve and that’s about it. The song (at least when I sing it, anyway), goes something like this: “Should old acquaintance be forgot… daa dahh daa da daa da daahhhhhhhh (hic!) Should old acquaintance be forgot… doo doo dah dah daa daa blaaaaaahhhhhh!”
My last act of kindness for the year is to look the damn words up and reprint them here.
The song is called “Auld Lang Syne,” and was written by Robert Burns in 1788. It’s a Scottish poem whose title roughly translates to “Old Long Since,” or more loosley: “Days Gone By.” The poem was meant to be an act of reflection on the past (something many of us end up doing on the last day of the year).
Thanks to those of you who have supported me this past year. Thanks for your help with my work, thanks for your friendship, laughter, and thanks to all the good spirits I had the fortune of bumping into along the way in 2008. May 2009 bring you all something special. Without further ado, “Auld Lang Syne.”
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.
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.
- CHORUS
We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.
- CHORUS
We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine† ;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.
- CHORUS
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.
- CHORUS