Auld Lang Syne - Robert (Rabbie) Burns
'Auld Lang Syne' was based on an anonymous verse which Burns took down from an old man's singing, and which so enchanted him that he wrote: 'Light be the earth on the beast of the Heaven-inspired poet who composed this glorious fragment.'
Little did he think as he worked at the happy task of converting the fragment into a complete poem that he was writing what was destined to become the most widely sung song in the world.
A word on the pronunciation. It is really extremely simple. Auld Lang Syne is not pronounced Old Long Zyne. Auld rhymes with bald; lang rhymes with pang (the 'a' slightly broader); and the 's' in syne is sibilant, as in since. Three words of one syllable should not be hard to master!
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Auld lang syne, long ago; braes, hill-slopes; gowans, daisies; burn, stream; braid, broad; fiere, comrade; guid-willie waught, a hearty draught, drunk in friendship.
Auld Lang Syne
The words
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days o auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne my Dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o kindness yet,
For auld land syne.
We twa hae run about the braes,
An pu'd the gowans fine;
But we've wandered mony a weary fit
Sin auld lang syne.
We twa hae paidl'd i' the burn,
Frae morning sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin auld lang syne.
And there's a hand, my trusty fiere,
An' gie's a hand o thine;
And we'll tak' a richt gude-willie waught
For auld lang syne.
And surely ye'll be your pint-stoup,
An' surely I'll be mine;
And we'll tak a cup o kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
Auld Lang Syne
The ritual
Now a word on the simple ritual.The company form a circle, join hands, and remain thus, without swinging their arms, while the first three verses - or the first verse only, for the second and third are often omitted - are sung.
On reaching the fourth verse, which begins, 'An' there's a hand, my trusty fiere', they advance a few steps (thus contracting the circle), unclasp hands, cross their arms in front and clasp the hands of their companions on either side.
During the chorus, they move their hands rhythmically up and down, and when the climax is reached, unclasp them once more and give three hearty cheers.
Auld Lang Syne blogs
Updated every 30 minutes
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- Porcelains and Peacocks: Hello and Good-bye: Auld Lang Syne
- His reinterpretation of an old folk song, Auld Lang Syne or "long, long ago" is sung on New Year's Eve around the world. It is about more than the passage of time; it is also about the passing of a way of life. ...
- HowStuffWorks "What does "Auld Lang Syne" mean?"
- What does "Old Lang Sign" mean? I always hear people singing it on New Year's Eve, but no one seems to know what it means!
Auld Lang Syne gifts
Some cool gifts here...
The Star O' Rabbie Burns
Amazon Price: $0.99 (as of 12/15/2009) 
Scottish and Irish Songs
Amazon Price: (as of 12/15/2009)
Rabbie's Rhymes: Burns for Wee Folk (Katie)
Amazon Price: $10.16 (as of 12/15/2009)
There Was A Lad / Duncan Gray / A Man's a Man / Corn Riggs / Star O' Rabbie Burns
Amazon Price: $0.89 (as of 12/15/2009)
Rabbie Burns Trilogy
Amazon Price: $0.89 (as of 12/15/2009)
The Collected Poems of Robert Burns
The Collected Poems of Robert Burns (Wordsworth Poetry Library)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/15/2009)
Robert Burns, the most celebrated of all Scottish poets, is remembered with great devotion - his birthday on 25th January provokes fervour and festivity among Scots and many others the world over. Born in 1759 into miserable rustic poverty, by the age of eighteen Burns had acquired a good knowledge of both classical and English literature. In June 1786 his first collection of verse, Poems Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, which included To a Mouse and The Cotter's Saturday Night, was greeted with huge acclaim by all classes of society. His later poems and ballads include Auld Lang Syne, the beautiful song My Love is like a Red Red Rose, Highland Mary, Scots Wha Hae and his masterpiece, Tam o'Shanter.
Snippets
The Alloway Kirkyard where Robert Burns father was buried was the scene for where Tam o' Shanter encountered the witches. Auld Lang Syne news
Updated every 30 minutes
- Blog: Auld Lang Syne: 2009 best forgotten?
- It's not long now until we'll all be singing 'Auld Lang Syne' at a raucous, celebratory New Year's Eve party surrounded by our nearest and dearest; ...
- Should Old Acquaintance Be Celebrated In Downtown
- by Ryan Vaillancourt DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - Quick: Do you know the lyrics to Auld Lang Syne? Well you've got three weeks to learn a verse or two. ...
- Auld Lang Syne: Drive-By Truckers, The funky Meters, Tea Leaf Green…
- Well, the temperature is dropping, office holiday party tour is in full swing and my chapped lips are making me look like the kid on the cover of U2â??s War ...
- Christmas generosity can help one realize that 'It's a Wonderful Life'
- ... community comes forward to help George and his family to provide a note of redemption and a rousing finale as "Auld Lang Syne" plays in the background. ...
Snippets
The mother and father of Robert Burns were married on the 15 December 1757. His father William Burnes was aged 36 whilst his wife Agnes (nee brown) was 25 when they wed. Auld Lang Syne links
- Robert Burns Tribute - Burns Supper, Haggis, Poems and more
- Rabbie Burns
- Robert Burns Country: the official Robert Burns site
- Everything you wanted to know about Robert Burns, Scotland's national bard (and lots more besides).
- BBC - Scotland - Burns Night
- BBC Scotland
- Robert Rabbie Burns 1759 - 1796: famous scottish poet
- Life and works of Robert Rabbie Burns
- Burns Night: My Supper With Rabbie
- Planning a Burns Supper, Burns Night Resources and Tips
BYE!
Hope to see you again soon...
HILLANDGLEN 
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