Auld Lang Syne (English Version)
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,
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.
We two have run about the slopes,
And picked the daisies fine;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
Since auld lang syne.
We two have paddled in the stream,
From morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared
Since auld lang syne.
And there’s a hand my trusty friend!
And give me a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
For auld lang syne
Auld Lang Syne roughly translates to “for old times sake”, the repeating phrase like a heartbeat that runs through the song, which is simply about reminiscing on the good times you shared with a friend while cheering to time spent together now.
Auld Lang Syne began as a Scottish poem written by Robert Burns in 1788. The composer of the now well-known melody is uncertain, but the song quickly gained popularity in Scotland, sung during an end-of-the-year celebration called Hogmanay, the song later spread all across the world. Auld Lang Syne even makes an appearance in American patriotic songs, such as the chorus of George M. Cohan’s “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” with an identical melody and lyrics reminiscent of the nostalgic tune. Yet some of the most memorable mentions of the song come from the otherwise bleak and bloody battlefield during World War I.
Auld Lang Syne was often sung in the trenches by soldiers on all sides of the war. On Christmas Eve in 1914, around 100,000 British and German soldiers came out of the trenches and met each other in “No-man's-land” between the front lines. They shook hands and exchanged souvenirs during what became known as the Christmas Truce of 1914. A British soldier brought over a ball, and a lively soccer game began. Later, Captain Sir Edward recalls a Christmas sing-along that included Auld Lang Syne, where all the soldiers, English, Scottish, Irish, Prussian, and more sang together, cheering for friendship and better times. Yet two long years later, the war continued. By 1916 soldiers grew weary of the endless suffering, no longer understanding what they were fighting for when the land they fought over was so far from home. In the trenches, British soldiers began to sing: “We’re here because we’re here because we’re here because we’re here”, to the otherwise bright and bittersweet tune of Auld Lang Syne. They had come to the terrifying realization, shaken, starved, and on the brink of death, that their struggle, and seemingly life itself, was meaningless. World War I ended in 1981 with around 4 million total casualties. Auld Lang Syne, its iterations, and its usage on all sides of the war persisted.
My first memory of the melody of Auld Lang Syne arises from singing “You’re a Grand Old Flag” in elementary school. Upon hearing and singing the sole phrase the song was referenced in over and over in fourth grade, that melody evokes a nostalgia in me from a time I can’t quite picture but can remember the feeling of. The first time I really paid attention to the lyrics of Auld Lang Syne was while listening to The Anthropocene Reviewed podcast episode on it my sophomore year of high school. At a time when I felt lost and overwhelmed, learning how a song brought people together in the most impossible of situations gave me the hope and direction I needed to push through a difficult year. A few months ago, I sat in the front row of my high school graduation ceremony, looking up at my friend delivering the co-valedictorian address. He referenced Auld Lang Syne, its history, and the nihilistic changed phrase during those dark moments of WWI. Yet in that enormous theatre, filled with family and surrounded by friends, “We’re here because we’re here because we’re here because we’re here” took on a different meaning. My friend spoke of how we had all struggled, that struggling and suffering in life was almost inevitable, yet rather than allowing that fact to let you fall into misery, you needed to push yourself to take advantage of the opportunities in the present moment and make life meaningful in your own way. He reminded us that regardless of the obstacles ahead, we had each other and that we needed to stay connected to the important people in our lives, no matter how brief our future interactions. The bonds of the past could and would support us in our sole pursuits in the future.
When I read or listen to Auld Lang Syne today, miles away from my close friends and family, I think about how grateful I am to have all the memories that make me miss the people I do in the first place. I think of Auld Lang Syne when I am at the boba place with my best friend, and we are laughing over too-sweet drinks, and I wish I could bottle the moment up and keep it on my dorm room shelf forever, but all we can do is give each other a tight hug, and promise to meet up over break.
Today the Auld Lang Syne is played all over the world, from Scotland during dances at weddings to Japan when stores are preparing to close and the United States during our own New Year's celebrations. It is an old song used to celebrate endings and cheer for new beginnings. It is a song of hope in hard times, and a reminder that things can and will change, for better or worse, so make the most of the current moment. Essentially, Auld Lang Syne tells us that when the rare opportunity presents itself, the best thing to do is reminisce with a friend for old-time's sake.
References:
“Auld Lang Syne.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 20 Nov. 2024, www.britannica.com/topic/Auld-Lang-Syne.
Title, Name, Last, Names, Middle, Name, First, "Auld Lang Syne." The Anthropocene Reviewed, Complexly, John Green, December 26, 2019, https://audio.listennotes.com/e/p/e5eed9540e6c4eef877d05c13b891825/.
