Auld Lang Syne

"Auld Lang Syne" performed by Dougie MacLean

On New Year’s Eve across American, right after the countdown to midnight, people will sing “Auld Lang Syne.” Though people make jokes about not knowing what this song means and may not understand why it is sung on New Year’s Ever, it is a fitting and powerful song that speaks to beauty and struggle in life and questions the power of memories in shaping ourselves and our future.

“Auld Lang Syne” is a Scottish poem written by Robert Burns in 1788. Scholars aren’t sure if the tune that we sing the poem to, a traditional Scottish Folk song, was the intended by Burns but it has become synonymous with the poem. “Auld Lang Syne” translates literally to “old long since” but means “long, long ago.”



The performance that I’ve included is by Dougie MacLean one of Scotland’s most important musicians and composers. He is best known for writing the opening song for the film Last of The Mohicans titled “The Gael.” There is something very genuine about his performance that is not only due to his accent. His simple performance is a reminder of the folk tradition of the song and the reflective nature of the lyrics.

The tune itself is built around a pentatonic or 5-note scale. A quick way to play the scale is to play just black keys on a piano. This scale is of the first scales that teachers teach to students in elementary school music class because of its simplicity and ease of harmonization. The construction of this song contributes to how easy it is to learn and sing

“Auld Lang Syne” has a consistent phrase structure throughout the melody and repetitive rhythmic pattern. What brings interest and longing to the song is the contour, the way the phrase moves through higher and lower notes. The first phrase of the verses leads up to a higher note and the second phrase of the verses comes down ending on a lower note. The chorus starts high, dips down and then gently rising up again. The highest note of the melody, “we’ll take” which sets up the last phrase, descends to the lowest note of the phrase on the words “auld lang syne.” There is a sense of drama as the melody in the verse leads to the last phrase of the chorus, which has the widest and most dramatic contour of the entire melody.

“Auld Lang Syne” opens with a question that the song will examine through five verses.

[verse 1]
Should auld (old) acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld (old) acquaintance be forgot,
And days o' lang syne?

The verse starts by asking if we should let go of memories of people in our past and then the song asks if we should remember the days in our past. These questions tie together the people in our lives with the days in our past reminding us that it is the people who made those days meaningful. .

[chorus]
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for days of auld lang syne.

There is something very meaningful of paying tribute with a toast filled not with liquid but our kind words. This helps us remember the good parts of the past and color our memories not with bitterness but the same good will we would like to share with all of the people in our lives. The next two verses speak of great times shared with people in the past and how those things have changed.

[verse 2]
We twa hae run about the braes,
(We two have run about the slopes,)
And pu’d (picked) the gowans (daisies) fine;
But we’ve wander’d mony (many) a weary foot,
Sin (since) auld lang syne.

[verse 3]
We twa hae paidl’d in the bur,
(We two have paddled in the stream)
Frae (from) morning sun till dine (dinner time);
But seas between us braid hae roar’d (broad roared)
Sin (since) auld lang syne.

The act of running through a field and picking flowers is a joyous form of walking while wondering, tired and lost is one of the saddest ways we move through life. Paddling a boat with a friend is an image of peace while that same water becomes a roaring sea is an image of violence. Things change in life and sometimes the activities that once brought us joy transforms into struggles through the responsibility and circumstance of adulthood.

[verse 4]
And surely ye’ll be (buy) your pint-stowp! (pint cup)
And surely I’ll be (buy) mine!
And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

Instead of looking back, this verse looks to the future. It looks forward to a time when friends will get together share a drink, and speak with fond words in tribute to times past. The song brings the realization that reminiscing about good times with friends in itself is something to look forward to in the future.

[verse 5]
And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere! (friend)
And gie's (give) a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll tak a right gude-willy waught, (good-will draught)
For auld lang syne.

The first verse ask a question in the present tense, the second and third verse reflect on the past, the fourth verse looks to future and fifth verse brings us back to the present. It’s like a friend convincing a friend of the importance of the past sharing handshake an expression of friendship and trust. This song not only convinces us that the past is worth remembering but that sharing a moment together is the past way to pay tribute to those times long ago.

I’ve been very fortunate in the past year. There are so many moments that I’ve gotten to share with people that I’ve love that mean so much to me. The picture at the top of this post is the first dance I had with my wife during our wedding reception. When I think of the question “Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days o' lang syne?” that moment with my wife in my arms surrounded by the people that we love comes to mind and my answer of course is no. And I hope I never do forget moments like that which bring me solace and strength.

Have a great New Year. Take a moment and share a great memory from the past year with a friend. Honor those times by filling the new year with wonderful moments with the people that you love that in future years you will reminisce as days of auld lang syne.