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Archiver > IRISH-AMERICAN > 2005-12 > 1133594064


From: "Michael P. Thompson" <>
Subject: Re: [Irish-American] Auld Lang Syne
Date: Sat, 03 Dec 2005 00:14:24 -0700
In-Reply-To: <003201c5f7d0$4b4b9530$4e607118@george>


On 12/2/05 11:10 PM, "rbbtfarm" <> wrote:

> Sitting here watching the BRAVO channel special about "The Greatest Things
> About the Holidays".
> It mentioned that the famous New Years Eve song,
> "Auld Lang Sine" (spelling ?) was actually an Irish drinking song. Wondered
> if anyone could find anything more about it's origins and how it became our
> song.

Hate to disagree with a TV channel, but they're way off base. Auld Lang Syne
was written by the famous Scottish poet Robert Burns. Here's the text, and a
translation from Burns' brogue.

> 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,
> For auld lang syne,
> We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
> For auld lang syne.
>
> And surely ye'll be your pint-stoup,
> And surely I'll be mine;
> And we'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,
> For auld lang syne.
> For auld, etc.
>
> We twa hae run about the braes,
> And pou'd the gowans fine;
> But we've wander'd mony a weary fit,
> Sin' auld lang syne.
> For auld, etc.
>
> 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.
> For auld, etc.
>
> And there's a hand, my trusty fiere!
> And gie's a hand o' thine!
> And we'll tak' a right gud-wellie waught,
> For auld lang syne.
> For auld, etc.
>
> A translation from the Scots Independent
>
> auld;old lang;long syne;since
>
> auld lang syne ; days of long ago
>
> pint stowp ; tankard
>
> pou'd ; pulled
>
> gowans ; daisies
>
> mony ; many
>
> fitt ; foot
>
> paidl'd ; waded
>
> dine; dinner-time
>
> braid ; broad
>
> fiere ; friend
>
> willie-waught ; draught
>
> owresettin
>
> Should old friendship be forgot'
> And never remembered ?
> Should old friendship be forgotten,
> And days of long ago.
>
> And surely you will have your tankard !
> And surely I will have mine !
> And we will take a cup of kindness yet,
> For days of long ago'
>
> We two have run about the hills
> And pulled the daisies fine :
> But we have wandered many a weary foot
> Since days of long ago.
>
> We two have waded in the stream
> From dawn till dinner-time :
> But seas between us broad have roared
> Since days of long ago.
>
> And there's a hand my trusty friend !
> And give me a hand of thine !
> And we will take a large draught
> For days of long ago.

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