Auld Lang Syne

Auld Lang Syne, set to the tune of a traditional folk song, is a Scottish-language poem written by Robert Burns in 1788. It is traditionally sung in the English-speaking world and other parts to say goodbye to the old year on New Year's Eve (at midnight on 31 December). It is also sung as a farewell on other occasions such as funerals and graduations.

We may loosely translate the poems's Scottish title into English as "old times", and for auld lang syne as "for the sake of old times".

Auld Lang Syne LYRICS

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 auld lang syne!

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

auld (adjective): old (Scottish)
lang syne (noun): the distant past, long ago (old Scottish)
tak (verb): take (Scottish)
o' (preposition): of

Contributor: Jonathan Taylor