"Auld Lang Syne"

Robert Burns

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Around New Year's you'll often hear the Scots-language poem written by Robert Burns known as "Auld Lang Syne," meaning "the days gone by."

Some of the original verses are a wee bit difficult for most English speakers to understand today, so we usually sing a "translation."

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Here's the text, with several verses. I've placed a modern English translation after each verse of the original Scots.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?

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Chorus:

For auld lang syne, my jo,
for auld lang syne,
we'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

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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.

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.

[Chorus]

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.

We two have run about the hills,
and picked the daisies fine;
But we've wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

[Chorus]

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.

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

[Chorus]

And there's a hand, my trusty fiere!
and gie's a hand o' thine!
And we'll tak' a right gude-willie waught,
for 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.

[Chorus]

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Some Words to Know (for English Language Learners):

• acquaintance: person one knows; here it may also mean "friend"
• chorus: the repeated part of a song, after the different verses
• daisies (singular daisy): common, small white flower with a yellow center
• weary: tired
• paddled: moved about on water, using either one's hands or wooden oars
• thine: an old way to say "your" or "yours"

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Activities

Vocabulary Exercise

Place the correct word in each sentence. Answers below.

1. I'll sing the verses and you can join me on the -----.
2. We watched as the baby ducks ----- toward the shore.
3. I was ----- after walking home from work.
4. I chatted with an old ----- at the store today.
5. Shakespeare wrote, "To ----- own self be true..."
6. We enjoyed picking ----- in the fields.

Questions for Writing or Discussion

1. Why do we find it important to remember old friends and "the old days" at New Year's?
2. What particular memories do you have of "auld lang syne," the days gone by?
3. Can you describe a New Year's tradition of your own?

Creative Projects

1. Write your own verses to "Auld Lang Syne" that incorporate your personal memories. It might help if you think of experiences with a particular friend or loved one.
2. Picture some of the scenes in the poem, perhaps "picking the daisies fine" or "paddling in the stream," or another, and render it in a drawing or painting.
3. Attempt (!) to recite one or more verses and the chorus with a proper Scots accent.

Share your writing, artwork, or performance with me! And let me know if I can share it with others. Use the contact form at the bottom of the page, or post it as a comment here or on one of my social media accounts.

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