The song Auld Lang Syne is traditionally sung by most of us on the stroke of midnight each New Years Eve however in Scotland, where Auld Lang Syne originates it is also sung on Burns Night, January 25th, to celebrate the life of the author and famous poet Robert Burns. .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Burns
I have also found plans for celebrations in Arkansas and Virginia, look around there may be one near you.
The song/poem has been found in earlier forms in 15th and 17th century volumes by anonymous authors.
THE MODERN SONG The first record of the present well-known song is in Robert Burns’ letter to his friend Mrs Dunlop, dated December 17, 1788, wherein he enclosed her a copy of the verse; saying, "There is an old song and tune which has often thrilled through my soul," and he apostrophised it in these words, "Light lie the turf on the breast of the heaven-inspired poet who composed this glorious fragment!" Five years afterwards—letter, September, 1793—he sent a copy of the song to George Thomson, who then was projecting the issue of a collection of Scottish songs, with music, with a note that the air was mediocre, but that the song he sent was a song of the olden time, which never was in print, nor even in manuscript, until he took it down from an old man singing,—adding that the poetry was enough to recommend any air. About the same time he sent another copy to James Johnson for the now celebrated Standard Collection of Scottish Songs, the "Scots Musical Museum;" and it was printed and published for the first time in December 1796, in the fifth volume of that work, about five months after Burns died . http://www.electricscotland.com/history/articles/langsyne.htm
The words 'Auld Lang Syne' literally translates from old Scottish dialect meaning 'Old Long Ago' and is about love and friendship in times past. The lyrics in the song Auld Lang Syne referring to 'We'll take a Cup of Kindness yet' relate to a drink shared by men and women to symbolize friendship.
So this year when you sing out the old year and sing in the new, think of Robert Burns.
AULD LANG SYNE
Words adapated from a traditional song
by Rabbie Burns (1759-96)
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 dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup of 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!
We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou'd the gowans fine,
But we've wander'd monie a weary fit,
Sin auld lang syne.
We twa hae paidl'd in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine,
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin auld lang syne.
And there's a hand my trusty fiere,
And gie's a hand o thine,
And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught,
For auld lang syne
Meanings
auld lang syne - times gone by
be - pay for
braes - hills
braid - broad
burn - stream
dine - dinner time
fiere - friend
fit - foot
gowans - daisies
guid-willie waught - goodwill drink
monie - many
morning sun - noon
paidl't - paddled
pint-stowp - pint tankard
pou'd - pulled
twa - two
Pssssst!! If you happen to know of any mistakes in this blog please feel free to POLITELY point them out to me in comments.
I am always happy to be corrected in a kind and courteous manner.
La
Same Auld Lang Syne - Dan Fogelberg
Auld Lang Syne
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| Auld Lang Syne: a New Year's Tradition |
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misschoos
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Dec 29 @ 7:34PM
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I am glad you didn't credit this to Burns.
I am almost sure the words were written as early as the 1500s as you say.
I read about this last week, but I can't get my book right now.
Will find the info for you tomorrow. I think I have a name for an author too, although can't be too sure, until I find my reference.
Happy 2008 gf
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misschoos
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Dec 30 @ 1:23PM
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I can't find my book. 
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iam7545
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Dec 30 @ 1:33PM
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Ms Lani - thx for this. I must say that if you ask any AMERICAN what the heck this song means while they are singing it on New Years Eve - they would say - I have NO EYE DEAR - 
Even if they were sober! 
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pamdemonium
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Dec 31 @ 7:25PM
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Happy New Year, Ms. Lani. Nice blog! 
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misschoos
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Jan 25 @ 6:57AM
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I found my book this morning -Schott's Original Miscellany - By Ben Schott. 
Auld Lang Syne
Though usually credited to Robert Burns, it is thought that these lyrics were widely known at the time, and were probably penned by Sir Robert Aytoun
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misschoos
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Jan 25 @ 7:07AM
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I also found this
Aytoun's move to England and involvement in the English court and English fashions did not sever his connection to Scotland. William Lithgow records Aytoun's importance in the continuity of a Scottish literary tradition in the preface to The Pilgrimes Farewell to his Native Country of Scotland (1618): "Brave Murray ah is dead, Aiton supplies his place." The line of Scottish makars flows from Alexander Montgomerie to his apprentice, John Murray, and so to Aytoun. The assertion that this line is then continued by Robert Burns is debatable, but the original words of "Old long syne," very much in Aytoun's style, are found in an Aytoun manuscript, and were first attributed to Aytoun by Rogers in 1871. Burns also rewrote "I doe confess th'art smooth, and faire," included as one of the four "Doubtful poems" in Gullans's edition. Whether Burns in the eighteenth century did continue Aytoun's line or not, in the seventeenth century Aytoun's verse found a popularity in both the North and South rarely experienced by a poet born in Scotland. ..
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