As has become my custom since retiring, I forward once again the original version along with a modern translation of “Auld Lang Syne”. This is my (futile, I fear) attempt to arm you for New Year’s Eve. Think of it as my one-man campaign to wipe out all that humming and lip syncing that goes on at mid-night when you should be proudly raising you voices along with your willie-waughts.
Robert Burns is not only for Scotland, but for all the world; he was one of that small band who wrote for all time and for all people. Brother Burns left to the world teachings of brotherhood, honesty, pride, and the interdependence of love and friendship. He voiced the spirit of equality and was unswerving in his devotion to liberty. We should all be guided by his credo: “Whatever mitigates the woes, or increases the happiness of others, this is my criterion of goodness, and whatever injures society at large, or any individual in it, this is my measure of iniquity!”
God Bless and have a wonderful and prosperous 2013, Terry
The song:
“Auld Lang Syne” “The Days Of Yore”
Original Version A Modern Translation
Should auld acquaintance be forgot Should we forget our former friends
And never brought to mind? By whom we set great store?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot Should we forget the friends we’ve met
And auld land syne? And the brave days of yore?
Chorus: Chorus:
For auld lang syne, my jo, The days of yore, my dear,
For auld lang syne. The days of yore,
We’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindess yet, We’ll tilt the jug and drain the mug
For auld land syne. To the brave days of yore.
And surely ye’ll be your pint-stoup I fancy you could sink a pint
And surely I’ll be mine; And I’ll take rather more
And we’ll tak’ a cup of kindness yet, And we’ll both get tight with all our might
For auld land syne, For the brave days of yore.
Chorus Chorus
We twa hae run about the braes, We two have wandered on the hills
And pou’d the gowans fine; And daisies pulled galore
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit, But we’ve tired our feet on many a street
Sin’ auld lang syne. Since the brave days of yore.
Chorus Chorus
We twa hae paidl’d in the burn We two have paddled in the brook
Frae morning sun till dine; From noon to half-past four
But seas between us braid hae roared; But seas have lain betwixt us twain
Sin’ auld lang syne, Since the brave days of yore.
Chorus Chorus
And there’s a hand, my trusty frier! So let us grasp each other’s hand
And gie’s a hand o’thine! And, as I said before
And we’ll tak’ a right guide willie-waught, Our hearts will cheer with honest beer
For auld lang syne. For the brave days of yore.
Chorus Chorus
Glossary: aboot, about; braes, hillsides; braid, broad; burn, stream; fit, foot; frier, friend; gie’s, give me; gowans, red berries; gude, good; ha’e (hay), have; mony (moany), many; paidl’d, paddled; pint-stoup, tankard; pou’d, pulled; sin’, since; tak’ (tack), take;
twa, two; willie-waught, draft of beer.
