I hope everyone had a great Christmas! Now that 2016 is almost upon us, the tune of Auld Lang Syne is about to be heard everywhere and will likely be stuck in my head until Halloween. Learn a bit about the Scottish poet Robert Burns by watching the short video below.

Auld Lang Syne, which roughly translates to the Scots version of “once upon a time” and has been used in several other pieces of Scottish literature, is a poem by Robert Burns, published in 1788 and is probably one of his best known poems. The poem is usually sung to the tune of a traditional folk song.

It is likely that parts of the poem were originally written by a different poet as “Old Long Syne” (1711) and Burns just added to it and then performed with music.

Lyrics:
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne*?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my jo,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
And surely ye’ll be your pint-stoup!
and surely I’ll be mine!
And we’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We twa hae run about the braes,
and pou’d the gowans fine;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit,
sin’ auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We twa hae paidl’d in the burn,
frae morning sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
sin’ auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere!
and gie’s a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll tak’ a right gude-willie waught,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

Happy New Year everyone!