Howdy!
Hope your Christmas was wonderful and hope these last few days of the year are filled with relaxation and perhaps planning for the year ahead.
Since it is so close to New Year’s Eve, I thought I’d continue our History of Christmas songs with the song most popular on New Year’s Eve, Auld Lang Syne.
.As the website at http://www.scotland.org says: “Auld Lang Syne is one of Scotland’s gifts to the world, recalling the love and kindness of days gone by, but in the communion of taking our neighbours’ hands, it also gives us a sense of belonging and fellowship to take into the future.”
Robert Burns penned the poem in 1788 and it is said to be set to an old folk song from the Lowland in Scots tradition, but interestingly, the melody sung the world round on New Year’s is not the original tune that the music was set to. The older tune is said to be sung in Scotland as is their tradition. I couldn’t find the original melody for this old song, but I wish I had — I’d love to hear what sounds like.
Another interesting fact is that it was Guy Lombardo who popularized the song and its use at the New Year’s event — although the song was brought to the United States by Scottish immigrants. Lombardo started his broadcasts in 1929 — and it just somehow caught on — to the world at large.
In the words of Robert Burns, himself:
“… is not the Scots phrase, ‘Auld Lang Syne’, exceedingly expressive – there is an old song and tune which has often thrilled thro’ my soul”.
Robert Burns — a very handsome young man — who, though born a peasant, yet lived with vigor. However, and unfortunately for the world at large, he died young of rheumatic fever, even as his wife was giving birth to their 9th child. He was only 37 years old.
When I heard he’d fathered nine children, I was shocked. And, to die so early, leaving a wife and nine children behind. What a loss this was to the world.
But, let’s look at the song itself:
The words to Auld Lang Syne — taken from the website: http://www.scotland.org/ features/ 
/ the-history-and-words-of-auld-lang–syne
I’ve dug up the Scottish version of the song, as well as the English. Do you have a piano? A guitar? Fancy singing along yourself? Here are the verses, and a translation of the words to Auld Lang Syne:
Scots Language version
Auld Lang Syne
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-stowp!
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 pu’d the gowans fine;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary foot
Sin auld lang syne.
Chorus
We twa hae paidl’d i’ the burn,
Frae mornin’ 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 guid willy waught,
For auld lang syne.
Chorus
English translated version
Long, Long Ago
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And long, long ago?
Chorus
And for long, long ago, my dear
For long, long ago,
We’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
For long, long ago
And surely you’ll buy your pint-jug!
And surely I’ll buy mine!
And we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
For long, long ago.
Chorus
We two have run about the hills
And pulled the daisies fine;
But we’ve wandered manys the weary foot
Since long, long ago.
Chorus
We two have paddled in the stream,
From morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared
Since long, long ago.
Chorus
And there’s a hand, my trusty friend!
And give us a hand of yours!
And we’ll take a deep draught of good-will
For long, long ago.
Chorus
*************************
It’s been a rough year for many of us. And yet, in some ways, our spirits have risen up to the occasion. It is my wish for you that this next year be a better and more promising year. And, though we might still have a bit of a rough ride ahead of us, if we can keep loving one another and showing kindness throughout this next year, I think we’ll be okay.
And now, I promised you a give-away. As some of you might know, I have a new release out this month, SHE CAPTURES MY HEART, which is book #2 in the new Medicine Man Series.
I’ll be giving away this book in e-book format to one of you bloggers. All you have to do to enter into the drawing is leave a comment to this post. Be sure to come to the blog tomorrow to see if you have won!
Hot Info: This new book has been at the #1 spot on Amazon for the New Release Category of American Historical Romances for seven days now. Below is the link to the book.
tinyurl.com/SHE-CAPTURES-MY-HEART
May your New Year be filled with good health, kindness and love!
KAREN KAY aka GEN BAILEY is the multi-published author of American Indian Historical Romances. She has written for such prestigious publishers as AVON/HarperCollins, Berkley/Penguin/Putnam and Samhain Publishing. KAREN KAY’S great grandmother was Choctaw Indian and Kay is honored to be able to write about the American Indian Culture.
Please refer to https://petticoatsandpistols.com/sweepstakesrules for all contest rules.
I knew some of the history surrounding the song. Thank you for the reminder.
No need to count me for the giveaway. I have a copy.
Happy Holidays! Happy New Year!
Hi Denise! So nice to see you here. Thanks for the reminder on the book. Hope your remaining holidays will be filled with love, good friends and beauty.
You can find the original tune on You Tube, search Auld Lang Syne (Original Tune). I liked it.
Wow! I’m going to do this and hear the origiinal of the song. Thank you! Just listened to it — wow! I really like it, too.
Burns claimed he got it all from an old man; however, most believe it was his own creation.
I know someone already pointed you to the original tune on Youtube.
HI Daivd! Yes, and I’m still listening to the origianl version. Wow! I really like. It is similar to what we sing now, but better. So nice to see you here. Really? He claimed he got the poem from an old man? What a loss that he was taken away so young.
Thank you for this information. It was very interesting.
Hi! You bet. I’ll leave this youtube link so if you want, you can go and listen to the original. It is very similar to the tune we sing now, only better, I think. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR5dxMJLWo0
Thanks so much. I am enjoying these posts.
Hi Debby! Thank you so much. Have a beautiful and cheerful rest of the holiday!
Thanks for the interesting info, Karen.
Wishing you and yours a a very happy New Year! (And please enter me in the drawing). Thank you!
Hi Lynn! You are, indeed, entered into the drawing. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Thanks for your post. I had never read about the history of this song, it was very interesting.
Hi Connie! Thank you so much! Hope the rest of your holidays will be wonderful!
interesting song info
Howdy! Thank you so much!
Thank you for the info on the song! It was very interesting. Gonna look at the YouTube link. Please enter me in the drawing for your book. Happy New Year!
Hi Ann! You bet! You’re definitely entered into the drawing. I was amazed at how pretty the original song is. Indeed, you might like it, too.
its been a rough year for me because i had right hip replaced in march and had right shoulder replaced yesterday so have no use of right hand for about six weeks or so. i am lucky to get this message typed.
Oh my gosh. So sorry you have had to go through this. And, I want to thank you very much for typing the comment despite it all. Get well. Do well. And may this new year be better and brighter.
Thanks for the history on this song, I knew of Guy Lombardo but really was not familiar with his songs. I look forward to reading this book.
Hi Crystal! You know what I didn’t know? It was that the first part of the song was all questions? Should all acquaintances be forgot? And the rest of the song answers those questions. Interesting. Thanks for your comment.
Hi Karen, Thank you, for that info for that song. I didn’t know it’s history. So sad, Robert Burns died so young. Do not enter me in your ebook giveaway, as I enjoy your paperbacks. Hope, you & hubby & family had a Awesome Christmas & upcoming New Year.