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Auld Lang Syne. " Auld Lang Syne " (Scots pronunciation: [ˈɔːl (d) lɑŋ ˈsəi̯n]) [a][1] is a popular Scottish song, particularly in the English-speaking world. Traditionally, it is sung to bid farewell to the old year at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve / Hogmanay. By extension, it is also often heard at funerals, graduations ...
Enjoy a harmonious rendition of Auld Lang Syne with piano, voice, and strings on YouTube.
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Auld Lang Syne, Scottish song with words attributed to the national poet of Scotland, Robert Burns. The composer is not definitely known. In English-speaking countries, the first verse and chorus are now closely associated with the New Year festival.
The lyrics of “Auld Lang Syne” are in the Scots language. The title, translated literally into standard English, is Old Long Since. The words can be interpreted as since long ago or for old times’ sake. The lyrics are about old friends having a drink and recalling adventures they had long ago. There is no specific reference to the new year.
Burns first wrote down “Auld Lang Syne” in 1788, but the poem did not appear in print until shortly after his death in 1796. It was first published in volume five of James Johnson’s Scots Musical Museum. Burns, a major contributor to the compilation, claimed that the words of “Auld Lang Syne” were taken “from an old man’s singing.” However, the song has been associated with Burns ever since. As published by Johnson, the lyrics were set to a different tune from the one that later became familiar.
Poems with similar words existed before the time of Burns. Sir Robert Ayton, who died in 1638, wrote Old Long Syne, a poem that was first published in 1711 and is sometimes cited as Burns’s inspiration. The Scottish poet Allan Ramsay published a poem in 1720 that begins with the line “Should auld acquaintance be forgot” but is otherwise dissimilar to the Burns poem.
The melody also existed before Burns wrote down the words. The English composer William Shield used a similar tune in his comic opera Rosina, first performed in 1782. Another version of the same tune was published in 1792 in volume four of the Johnson compilation, but with words entirely different from “Auld Lang Syne.” Not until 1799 did the words and music that are now familiar appear together, in a Scottish song compilation published by George Thomson. In the 19th century the song was reprinted many times, and eventually it became part of the Scottish Hogmanay (New Year’s celebration). Hogmanay celebrants traditionally sing the song while they stand in a circle holding hands.
The Canadian-born bandleader Guy Lombardo helped make “Auld Lang Syne” a New Year’s Eve tradition in North America. His band, the Royal Canadians, played the song at the turn of the new year in a series of popular radio (and later television) broadcasts that began on December 31, 1929, and continued for more than 30 years.
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,
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And old lang syne?
(Chorus)
For auld lang syne, my dear,
People also ask
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First-class B.A. Honors Degree in English Literature. ‘Auld Lang Syne’ is a poem in Scots-language written by the Scottish poet Robert Burns. It is a traditional folk song and is well known in many English-speaking countries. Traditionally, the song is sung at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve to bid adieu to the old year.
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Sep 7, 2023 · Learn the origin, history and words of the Scottish song Auld Lang Syne, which is traditionally sung on New Year's Eve. Discover how the tune has been used by composers like Beethoven and Cliff Richard.
- 25 min
Dec 31, 2023 · Learn the meaning of "Auld Lang Syne," a Scottish song about "old long since" and "for old time's sake." Discover how Robert Burns preserved the song and Guy Lombardo made it famous in the U.S.
Dec 22, 2021 · Learn the origin, translation and significance of the Scottish song "Auld Lang Syne" that is traditionally sung on New Year's Eve. Find out how Robert Burns, Guy Lombardo and other factors popularized this folk tune.
