Auld Lang Syne

 

 

I make no apology for including this information on the web site. It was inspired by my perception that there exists a general lack of knowledge regarding the words, the meanings and practices surrounding the performance of Auld Lang Syne at the end of an evening.

 

Apart from the experience of standing beside a fellow dancer at the end of a dance to overhear a tuneless mouthing of wrong words I have also come across web sites from ex-patriot Scots providing incorrect information.

 

There are also a number of individuals who take a very superior attitude to anyone questioning the real meaning of the words and the practices relating to Auld Lang Syne at the end of a Scottish evening and who are very quick to attempt to make a fool of anyone who enquires about them.

 

I also composed the article to speak on behalf of, and in defence of, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who was terribly wronged recently on a Channel 5 television show!  As I can best recall the show concerned the top 100 gaffes by prominent personalities. The Queen was shown to be at a loss about what to do when Auld Lang Syne was sung at the end of a right royal European occasion, which included all the European Heads of State including our Tony, regarding the holding of hands. The Queen wanted to join nearer hands at the beginning of the rendition of Auld Lang Syne when all others at the event wanted to cross hands. Her attempt to 'get it right' was met with howls of derision from the television producer and others who took part in the compilation of the programme. However Brenda was right ALL the others were wrong!

 

All sources of information are provided - I take no credit for anything other than attempting to establish ‘common practice’ based on my own experience and on the best information sources I can find.

 

 

Evening’s End

 

At the conclusion of a dance or an event, the company often form a circle and join hands to sing Auld Lang Syne. If the room cannot accommodate one large circle, two circles, one inside the other, can be formed).

 

On most occasions only two of the five verses are sung (full versions are available via the links below).

 

 

 

The Words

 

Verse 1

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 o' kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.

 

Verse 5

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.

 

Chorus

For auld lang syne, my dear,

For auld lang syne,

We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.

 

 

 

The Practices

 

The custom is as follows:-

 

All those present form one large circle round the dance floor and with nearer hands joined, swinging right hand forward and left hand backwards alternately, sing verse 1 followed by the chorus as shown above.

 

then all cross hands to sing verse 5 (verses 2,3 and 4 are normally omitted) whilst moving arms rhythmically up and down to the beat of the music

 

then with arms still crossed everyone sings the final chorus and during the last two lines of the final chorus all advance and retire twice into centre of hall and back out

 

(on the last two bars of music many people will pull back their right shoulders turning under their own arms to face out). 

 

 

Source Information Details.

 

 

All the verses of the song ‘attributed’ to Robert Burns (including a translation) can be seen at :-

 

http://www.worldburnsclub.com/poems/translations/auld_lang_syne.htm (use the ‘Back’ key in the menu bar to return to this page)

 

The word ‘attributed’ is used because Robert Burns himself acknowledged that he had added to the fragments of a 16th century poem of which the source is unknown. However Burns was moved by the poem which reflected his own sentiment on fellowship and bygone times - and he is to be thanked for bringing it into the popular culture - for fuller information see :-

 

http://www.worldburnsclub.com/newsletter/auld_lang_syne_what_about.htm (use the ‘Back’ key in the menu bar to return to this page)

 

 

Alasdair Graham sent me this link - try the karaoke option!!

 

http://www.hogmanay.net/history/karaokeauldlangsyne

 

 

 

Derek Petrie

Monday 6th February 2006.