rantlust

Posted by anupcs on January 01st 2007 in Music, Poetry, Random
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I had a very sedate(d) new year’s eve (NYE) – a radical departure from the hedonistic celebrations of years gone by. Both my wife and I (also some friends) caught a viral fever of some sort during a trip on XMAS weekend. The holiday week was spent watching movies, reading books, and lazing about, in between coughing fits that could be heard as far away as Moffett Field. The good news is that I don’t need to pop any Tylenols as is custom on New Year’s day every year.

I don’t have the energy to call those near and dear to wish them a prosperous new year. How about a blog post instead? Here’s wishing all the English speakers (and others who celebrate January 1st as the first day of the year) a happy new year.

Auld Lang Syne is the poem most associated with NYE. Originally written by that esteemed Scot, Robert Burns, it became part of the official NYE celebrations when Guy Lombardo’s band first used it in 1929. A recording from Lombardo’s band is still played during the NYE Times Square celebration in Manhattan. Burns wrote the poem in old Scots and very few people can remember even the English translation. Here’s the full English version…

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 dear,
For auld lang syne,
We’ll tak a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

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!

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou’d the gowans fine,
But we’ve wander’d monie a weary fit,
Sin auld lang syne.

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.

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