The Hymns and Carols of Christmas

Auld Lang Syne

Version 2
Compare: Auld Lang Syne - Version 1

The Annotated Version
Verses 3 and 4, Robert Burns, 1788
Other verses and the chorus, traditional, ca. 16th Century

1. Should auld01 acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne!02

Chorus.-

For auld lang syne, my dear,03
For auld lang syne.
We'll tak04 a cup o'05 kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

2. And surely ye'll be your pint06 stowp!07
And surely I'll be mine!
And we'll tak a cup o'kindness yet,
For auld lang syne. Chorus.-

3. We twa08 hae09 run about the braes,10
And pou'd11 the gowans12 fine;
But we've wander'd mony13 a weary fit,14
Sin'15 auld lang syne. Chorus.-

4. We twa hae paidl'd16 in the burn,17
Frae18 morning sun till dine;19
But20 seas between us braid21 hae roar'd
Sin’ auld lang syne. Chorus.-

5. And there's a hand, my trusty fere!22
And gie's23 a hand o’ thine!
And we'll tak a right gude-willie waught,24
For auld lang syne. Chorus.-

End Notes

1. Old Return

2. "Old Long Ago" Return

3. In earlier versions, "my jo" ("jo" has been translated by one source as "dear."). Return

4. Take or drink Return

5. Of Return

6. Pint: Three imperial pints Return

7. Pay for your pint; "stowp" has been translated as "tankard." Return

8. Two Return

9. Have Return

10. Hills or hillsides Return

11. Pulled Return

12. Daisies Return

13. Or, "monie" meaning "many" Return

14. Foot Return

15. Since. Sometimes appears without the apostrophe Return

16. Waded or paddled Return

17. Stream Return

18. From Return

19. Noon or dinner-time Return

20. Meaning without; or in the kitchen (i.e. the outer apartment) according to one source. Return

21. Broad Return

22. Or "Fiere", meaning "friend" Return

23. Give Return

24. Or 'And we'll take a richt guid-willy waught' means 'a draught of good fellowship'. Return

Translations

Verse One

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, (Should old acquaintances be forgotten)
And never brought to mind ? (and never remembered)
Should auld acquaintance be forgot, (Should old acquaintance be forgotten)
And Auld Lang Syne? (For old long ago)

Chorus

For Auld Lang Syne , my dear (For old long ago, my dear)
For Auld Lang Syne , ( For old long ago)
We’ll tak a cup o kindness yet, (We will take a cup of kindness yet)
For Auld Lang Syne! (For old long ago)

Verse Two: None

Verse Three

We twa hae run about the braes (we two have run about the hills)
And pou’d the gowans fine, (and pulled the daisies fine)
But we’ve wander’d monie a weary fit, (but we’ve wandered many a weary foot)
Sin Auld Lang Syne (since old long ago)

Verse Four

We twa hae paidl’d in the burn (we two have paddled in the stream)
Frae morning sun till dine (from morning sun (noon) until dinner-time)
But seas between us braid hae roar’d (but seas between us broad have roared)
Sin Auld Lang Syne (since old long ago)

Verse Five

And there’s a hand my trusty fiere, (And there is a hand my trust friend)
And gie’s a hand o thine (And give me a hand of yours)
And we’ll tak a right guid-willie waught, (And we will take of a good drink/toast)
For Auld Lang Syne (For old long ago)

Sources:

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