Auld Lang Syne

Often referred to as a Robbie Burns song. Not quite that simple

Portrait of Robert Burns by Alexander Naysmith (Public Domain

‘I took it down from an old man.’ Robert Burns

The words and music of Auld Lang Syne are of uncertain origin. The tune had been around for generations. It was already in vogue in the 1790s when Haydn arranged a classic variation on the theme:

This band leader does the Haydn arrangement plus an Elvis impersonation, with a fine line in wooden dialogue

Some of the words were also already in circulation decades before their first publication in 1796, in an anthology of traditional Scottish verse. Attribution went posthumously to Robert Burns.

This was misleading. Burns himself had not claimed authorship when he submitted Auld Lang Syne to the Scots Musical Museum in 1788.

The following song, an old song, of the olden times, and which has never been in print, nor even in manuscript until I took it down from an old man.”[8]

This ‘old man’ has never been identified. It seems likely that at least some of the words came from an older folk song published by James Watson in 1711. These lines seem, ahem, similar:

Should Old Acquaintance be forgot,
and never thought upon;

No royalties for Mr Watson (deceased) or his kin, though because Auld Lang Syne is centuries out of copyright. You can pencil it in for your funeral setlist without incurring extra cost — though personally I wouldn’t insert any demands to link arms. Horses for courses.

Scots (not Scotch!)

Illustration accompanying first publication of Auld Lang Syne by J.M. Wright and Edward Scriven.

Hogmanay?

The title of Auld Lang Syne is from the Scots language. The literal translation into English is Old long since, but ‘for old times sake’ is a more natural fit. The context is a social occasion to mark an iminent departure

The world’s best known New Year’s Eve song is not specifically about Hogmanay or any other a particular calendar date. Nor does it advocate linking arms or communal singing. But the tune can be tweaked to create an an arrangement to suit a variety of occasions.

This wistful version worked very well in during lockdown.

But that now we can click that Zoom screen off, the party has returned to the streets. And linking arms at midnight while singing the song is a custom that has spread across the world.

Genteel welcoming in of the new year — other more raucous options are available

The Words

The first verse and chorus are sung across the world:

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet
For days of auld lang syne

About Hogmanay