Auld Lang Syne (Learning by Singing)

Auld Lang Syne¹

Robert Burns, 1788

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and never brought to mind ?

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and days of auld lang syne?

[CHORUS]

For auld lang syne, my dear/jo (dear),

for auld lang syne,

we'll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

 

And surely you’ll be (buy) your pint-stoup!

And surely I’ll be (buy) mine!

And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

[CHORUS]

 

We twa (two) hae (have) run about² the braes (slopes),

and pu’d (pulled) the gowans (daisies) fine;

But we’ve wandered mony (many) a weary foot,

since auld lang syne.

[CHORUS]

 

We twa (two) hae (have) paidl’d (paddled) in the burn (stream),

Frae (from) morning sun till dine;

But seas between us braid (broad) hae (have) roared

since auld lang syne.

[CHORUS]

 

And there’s a hand, my trusty friend!

And give us a hand o’ thine³!

And we’ll take a right gude-willie (goodwill) waught (draught⁴),

for auld lang syne.

[CHORUS]

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1 auld lang syne

►old long since; days of long ago; the good old days.

2 about

►[British English]  in many different directions within a place or in different parts of a place [= around]

--People were rushing about, trying to find the driver.

3 thine

►[old use] yours

4 draught [British English]

=draft[American English]

►Beer that is on draught is served from a large container rather than a bottle.

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