Auld Lang Syne 2007: Happy New Year 2008!

Auld Lang Syne
by Robert Burns

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 take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne

We twa hae run aboot the braes
And pou'd the gowans fine;
we've wander'd mony a weary foot
Sin' auld lang syne

We two hae paidled i' the burn,
Frae mornin' sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin' auld lang syne

And here's a hand, my trusty friend,
And gie's a hand o' thine;
We'll take 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?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne

The Meaning of 'Auld Lang Syne'

To understand the true meaning behind "Auld Lang Syne", they would first have to know what the title means and where the poem is from.

The poem is Scottish and is written by a Scotsman, therefore the poem is written in a Scottish accent. There is a translated version provided to help the reader to understand what the poem is saying. This breakdown will be refering the original words to the poem.

There are two characters in this poem. The first character is the narrator. The narrator is recounting old memories that he and the second character shared together. The second character can be two different people. One version makes the second character to be a very close friend. The other version portrays the second character to be a wife or girlfriend. This analogy will use the first version, but has the same meaning if used for the second.

By the first read through the poem one would believe that it was talking about friendships and memories that the two people shared, but after a deeper analysis the poem begins to deepen in meaning.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind"
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne"

This section of the poem is the narrator asking the second character if he/she wants to forget all of the great times that the two had together, long ago. Apparently, the pair seem to be having a fight over a reason that isn't worth losing their friendship.

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

In the refrain the narrator is begging his companion to remember the times that they have had together. The line: "We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet" is a metaphor meaning that they will become friends again and will be grateful toward each other.

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pu'd the gowans fine;
But we've wandered mony a weary fit
Sin' auld lang syne.

In this passage the narrator is using another metaphor. The Phrase, "Running about the braes (or hills in English) and pu'd the gowans" is referring to the happy and cherished memories that the pair have experienced together. The second metaphor in this stanza is talking about the weary fits, or troubled times. He is referring to the troubled and hard times they experienced. It is also saying that they should not be distressed because the two have always settled their differences in the past.

We twa hae paidled i' the burn,
Frae morning sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roared
Sin' auld lang syne.

This section of "Auld Lang Syne" is refers to the toils that the narrator and his friend have gone through. "We twa hae paidled i' the burn, Frae morning sun till dine" talks about how the friends worked hard, side-by-side, each day to accomplish their common goal. The phrase that talks about seas and braids is speaking of the hardships in the past. The braids and seas are metaphors for people or objects that have caused the pair troubles in their relationship.

And there's a hand, my trusty fiere,
And gie's a hand o' thine!
And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught
For auld lang syne.

These lines are used to persuade the second character to forget about what happened and to become friends again. They will drink in each others companionship and become even better friends.

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

The last chorus is a metaphor as well. It is trying to say that the two will respect each other and stay out of each others affairs, but will be very close friends.

The entire poem is a story that is describing a situation that Robert Burns himself might have experienced. It was an ode to celebrate a reunion of friendship.