That New Year’s Song
Happy Holidays everyone! It’s that odd stretch of days between Christmas and New Year’s here at The Storage Inn in Egg Harbor Township New Jersey, but that has not slowed down our storage rental customers one bit. Our storage tenants are shuttling in and out of the storage rental office preparing for 2019!
Yesterday, I was working at the front desk when into the rental office burst one of our wonderful, long-time customers, Mike. He was waving a champagne bottle and singing Auld Lang Syne. He stopped long enough to say “Happy New Year – this is for you!” I thanked him, and wished him a Happy New Year too! He strolled off towards his car singing that song, Auld Lang Syne, at the top of his lungs.
The champagne bottle sat in front of me as I listened to Mike’s singing trail off into the distance. “What the heck is Auld Lang Syne?”
Thinking back, I can remember hearing this song as a child and wondering who is “Lang” and why does he have a sign? This needed some investigation for clarification’s sake.
Origins
Auld Lang Syne was an ancient song that roughly translates as “for old times’ sake”. The song is all about preserving old friendships and looking back over the events of the year. Does anyone remember the 1937 Little Rascals Episode below where they sing this song?!
Blame it on The Scots
It has long been a much-loved Scottish tradition to sing the song just before midnight. Everyone stands in a circle holding hands, then at the beginning of the final verse (‘And there’s a hand my trusty friend’) they cross their arms across their bodies so that their left hand is holding the hand of the person on their right, and their right hand holds that of the person on their left. When the song ends, everyone rushes to the middle, still holding hands, and probably giggling.
Lyrics
Below is a video and a copy of the lyrics of the entire song with the original Gaelic version (in bold), followed by a more modern translation for each individual verse and chorus – enjoy!
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne.
Translation
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And long, long ago.
For auld lang syne, my jo,
For auld lang syne,
We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne,
Translation
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 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.
Translation
And surely you’ll buy your pint mug!
And surely I’ll buy mine!
And we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
For long, long ago.
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.
Translation
We two have run about the hills
And pulled the daisies fine;
But we’ve wandered – many a weary foot
Since long, long ago.
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.
Translation
We two have paddled in the stream,
From morning sun till dusk;
But seas between us broad have roared
Since long, long ago.
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.
Translation
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.
Now that we have a little history, and translation on Auld Lang Syne, we can sing it loud and proud as we raise a glass and remember the year that was, and the one that will be.
I am just happy that I no longer have to wonder “Who is Lang?”, and “What does his sign say?”