I’ve been horribly sick and that’s why I’ve been MIA from here. But I couldn’t end 2012 allowing myself to feel crappy because I’m really looking forward to 2013! A lot of good things should be happening in this up coming year and I can’t tell you how excited I am. 2012 has been witness to some horrible tragedies but some great things as well. I hope 2013 brings you the love and kindness we all need and deserve.

So I was thinking about the New Year’s Song Auld Lang Syne, and I can’t honestly tell you what the words are or what they mean. So I went on a google hunt to see what this song is all about. So here’s the answer for you:

“Auld Lang Syne” is a Scots poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song. It is well known in many countries, especially in the English-speaking world; its traditional use being to celebrate the start of the New Year at the stroke of midnight. By extension, it is also sung at funerals, graduations and as a farewell or ending to other occasions. The international Boy Scout youth movement, in many countries, uses it as a close to jamborees and other functions.

The song’s Scots title may be translated into English literally as “old long since”, or more idiomatically, “long long ago”, “days gone by” or “old times”. Consequently “For auld lang syne”, as it appears in the first line of the chorus, might be loosely translated as “for (the sake of) old times”.

The phrase “Auld Lang Syne” is also used in similar poems by Robert Ayton (1570–1638), Allan Ramsay (1686–1757), and James Watson (1711) as well as older folk songs predating Burns. Matthew Fitt uses the phrase “In the days of auld lang syne” as the equivalent of “Once upon a time…” in his retelling of fairy tales in the Scots language.

Robert Burns sent a copy of the original song to the Scots Musical Museum with the remark, “The following song, an old song, of the olden times, and which has never been in print, nor even in manuscript until I took it down from an old man.” Some of the lyrics were indeed “collected” rather than composed by the poet; the ballad “Old Long Syne” printed in 1711 by James Watson shows considerable similarity in the first verse and the chorus to Burns’ later poem, and is almost certainly derived from the same “old song”.

There is some doubt as to whether the melody used today is the same one Burns originally intended, but it is widely used in Scotland and in the rest of the world.

Singing the song on Hogmanay or New Year’s Eve very quickly became a Scots custom that soon spread to other parts of the British Isles. As Scots (not to mention English, Welsh and Irish people) emigrated around the world, they took the song with them.

Canadian band leader Guy Lombardo is often credited with popularising the use of the song at New Year’s celebrations in America, through his annual broadcasts on radio and television, beginning in 1929. The song became his trademark. In addition to his live broadcasts, Lombardo recorded the song more than once. His first recording was in 1939. A later recording on 29 September 1947 was issued as a single by Decca Records as catalogue #24260.

source

Now that we know the background. Let’s Mariah Carey belt it out for us. Take it away Mimi!

LYRICS

Should old acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot
And auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We’ll take a cup of kindness yet
For auld lang syne, for auld lang syne

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

Old acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot
Eh, eh, auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We’ll take a cup of kindness yet
For auld lang syne

For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We’ll take a cup of kindness yet
For auld lang syne

Eh, oh, yeah, aye
Eh, hey, Happy New Yeah, baby
Aye, oh, 5, 4, 3, 2

Should old acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot
Eh, eh, auld land syne?

Does anybody really know the words?
Might as well sing along

Happy New Year, baby, oh
Happy New Year, baby

Should old acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot
Eh, eh, auld land syne?

Happy New Year to you and your friends
And have a great party
Happy New Year to you too
And have a great party

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Happy New Year

I hope tonight you’re surrounded by the people you love the most!