AULD LANG SYNE

(lyrics collected and co-authored by Robert Burns, 1788,
paired with traditional tune by George Thompson, 1796)

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 tak a cup o' kindness yet
	  For days of auld lang syne

We twa hae run about the braes           We two have run around the slopes
  And pu'd the gowans fine                      and picked the daisies fine
But we've wander'd mony a weary fit    We've wandered many a weary foot
  Sin days of auld lang syne                    since old times

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

And we twa hae paidl'd I' the burn         We two have paddled in the stream
  Frae morning sun 'til dine                      from morning sun 'til dawn
But seas between us braid hae roar'd   But seas between us loud have roared
  Sin days of auld lang syne                     since old times

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

And there's a hand, my trusty fiere        There's a hand, my trusty friend
  And gie's a hand o' thine                        And give us a hand o' thine
And we'll tak a right gude-willy waught  We'll take a right good-will drink
  For auld lang syne                                 for old times

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

recording: Dougie MacLean singing traditional melody (1796) (live solo, 2017) [YouTube]

original poem: Original stanza order as published by Robert Burns (1788) [Robert Burns Country]

recording: Mairi Campbell singing original folk melody (1788) from Sex and the City (2008) [YouTube]

recording: Mairi Campbell, music video without additional film sounds and dialogue (2008) [YouTube]

background: John Green on The Anthropocene Reviewed [WNYC]

background: "Go Ahead, Sing 'Auld Lang Syne' Badly Tonight" [NPR]