Friday, December 31, 2010

Words of the Poet for New Year's Eve

(cross stitch pattern from Scotland)

Throughout the English-speaking world, Auld Lang Syne is traditionally sung on New Years Eve (known as Hogmanay in Scotland). That  tradition does not hearken back to Burns but rather only to  Canadian band leader Guy Lombardo who sang at midnight January 1, 1929 in the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City.  Guy Lombardo's orchestra played the song every New Years Eve, in live broadcast from New York, until 1976.  Since then, their recording has been played each year as part of the Times Square "ball drop." 

(for a translation of Burns' Scottish words and phrases, see this link)

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 dear, for auld lang syne.  We'll take a cup o' kindness yet, for auld lang syne.


And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp! And surely I'll be 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.  We've wandered mony a weary foot, sin' auld lang syne.  Chorus

We twa hae sported i' the burn, from morning sun till dine, but seas between us braid hae roared sin' auld lang syne.  Chorus

And ther's a hand, my trusty friend, and gie's a hand o' thine; We'll tak' a right good willie-waught, for auld lang syne.  Chorus

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