On New Year's Eve, the most common song for most English-speaking people to sing is "Auld Lang Syne." Isn't it funny how it's possible to sing and hear a song so many times and have no idea what it means? And wouldn't it be funny if it meant "Big Pink Elephants?"


A good sub-question is, what language is it?

It turns out that "Auld Lang Syne" is an extremely old Scottish song that was first written down in the 1700s. Robert Burns is the person whose transcription got the most attention, so the song is associated with him.

A good translation of the words "auld lang syne" is "times gone by." So (incorporating a couple of other translations) when we sing this song, we are saying, "We'll drink a cup of kindness yet for times gone by."


Robert Burns, or Rabbie as he was known, was the son of a farmer, born in Alloway, Ayrshire, in the southwest of Scotland on January 25, 1759. He worked at several trades prior to turning to publishing his poetry as a source of income: first as a farmer which damaged his health and then as a flax weaver. He failed at both. He began writing poetry in 1784 and his first collection of poems The Kilmarnock edition (named for the city of publication), was published in 1786. In 1788, he began working as a tax collector while continuing to write poetry; he also collected, revised, and wrote folk songs. He married Jean Armour, the mother of one of his illegitimate children, and eventually died on July 21, 1796, aged 37.

He is famous for his poetry and his songs, some of which are: Auld Lang Syne; Comin’ Thro the Rye; Sweet Afton; Scots Wha Hae; Green Grow the Rashes; and A Red, Red, Rose. In addition there is The Selkirk Grace – a grace before meals and Address to a Haggis, both of which are used at Burns Suppers – Burns Night celebrations held around the anniversary of his birth in Scottish communities worldwide.

These links will help you learn more:
http://web.ripnet.com/~nimmos/auld_lang_syne.html
Robert Burns: Auld Lang Syne
Lyrics: Auld Lang Syne
The Burns Encyclopedia: Auld Lang Syne
Auld Lang Syne sheet music - plays the song for you, too

http://www.chivalry.com/cantaria/lyrics/auldlang.html
http://www.robertburns.org/
http://www.recmusic.org/midi/auldlangsyne.mid