It\u2019s that time again \u2014 January. The time when we thankfully put the disappointments of the past behind us, and welcome the fresh start promised by a new calendar year. Our hopes for a brighter future are embodied by the coincidentally increasing daylight hours, while we remain in the, sometimes stark, depths of winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many of us christen the New Year with a rendition of the traditional song Auld Lang Syne, or at least a hearty interpretation of the first verse and chorus, vaguely recalled from our youthful alcohol-fuelled midnight parties. This song deserves more attention than the few minutes of mumbled melody that most of us give it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Composed in 1788, by Scotland\u2019s national poet, Rabbie Burns, this song has stood the test of time. In it, Burns describes the conversation of two old friends, who meet in a pub after many years apart. The setting may have something to do with the song\u2019s appeal as an accompaniment to today\u2019s festive revelry. However, it is the sentiment that the friends express that reveals its suitability to the occasion of New Year\u2019s. They declare that they will share a drink in memory of all the old times they spent together in their youth, playing in the countryside among the hills, flowers and creeks. They rejoice in their reuniting after being separated for years by vast distances. This song is the perfect embodiment of the bonds of friendship that tie us all together, even in our darkest hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Burns composed the lyrics in his traditional language of Scots and set them to his embellishment of an old tune he had heard in the Scottish countryside. Over time, the song has changed from a melancholy ballad into a rowdy drinking song. A comparison of these tunes, as sung by Paolo Nutini, can be heard here<\/a>. This young singer concisely explains the significance of the old version and his preference for it. Another recording of the old version can be found here<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As we look back on the last 12 months and contemplate what the next 12 hold for us, what better time, particularly in the month when Burns was born, to celebrate the sentiments that he gave voice to almost 250 years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Auld Lang Syne<\/strong> English Translation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This article was originally printed in\u00a0THE\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>BERGEN NEWS<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0and is being reprinted with permission.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It\u2019s that time again \u2014 January. The time when we thankfully put the disappointments of the past behind us, and welcome the fresh start promised by a new calendar year. Our hopes for a brighter future are embodied by the coincidentally increasing daylight hours, while we remain in the, sometimes stark, depths of winter. Many…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-723","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-historical-research"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.peyerl.ca\/quill\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/723","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.peyerl.ca\/quill\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.peyerl.ca\/quill\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.peyerl.ca\/quill\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.peyerl.ca\/quill\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=723"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.peyerl.ca\/quill\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/723\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":745,"href":"https:\/\/www.peyerl.ca\/quill\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/723\/revisions\/745"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.peyerl.ca\/quill\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=723"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.peyerl.ca\/quill\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=723"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.peyerl.ca\/quill\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=723"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
(Words adapted from a traditional song)
by Rabbie Burns (1759-96) from 1788.<\/p>\n\n\n\nShould auld acquaintance be forgot,\nAnd never brought to mind?\nShould auld acquaintance be forgot,\nAnd auld lang syne?\n\n\nCHORUS:\nFor auld lang syne, my jo,\nFor auld lang syne,\nWe'll tak a cup of kindness yet,\nFor auld lang syne!\n\n\nAnd surely ye'll be your pint-stowp,\nAnd surely I'll be mine,\nAnd we'll tak a cup o kindness yet,\nFor auld lang syne!\n\n\nWe twa hae run about the braes,\nAnd pou'd the gowans fine,\nBut we've wander'd monie a weary fit,\nSin auld lang syne.\n\n\nWe twa hae paidl'd in the burn\nFrae morning sun till dine,\nBut seas between us braid hae roar'd\nSin auld lang syne.\n\n\nAnd there's a hand my trusty fiere,\nAnd gie's a hand o thine,\nAnd we'll tak a right guid-willie waught,\nFor auld lang syne.\n<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Should old acquaintance be forgot,\nAnd never brought to mind?\nShould old acquaintance be forgot,\nAnd old long past?\n\n\nCHORUS:\nFor old long past, my dear,\nFor old long past,\nWe'll take a cup of kindness yet,\nFor old long past!\n\n\nAnd surely ye'll be your pint-glass,\nAnd surely I'll be mine,\nAnd we'll take a cup o kindness yet,\nFor old long past!\n\n\nWe two have run about the hills,\nAnd pulled the flowers fine,\nBut we've wander'd many a weary foot,\nSince old long past.\n\n\nWe two have paddl\u2019d in the creek\nFrom morning sun till noon,\nBut seas between us broad have roar'd\nSince old long past.\n\n\nAnd there's a hand my trusty friend,\nAnd give me a hand of yours,\nAnd we'll take a right gooddeep drink,\nFor old long past.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n