The great poet Robert Burns said he got the song Auld Lang Syne from an old man. He said there was old man with an old song. I think then Robert put it together as only a fine poet can. Adding a bit. Smoothing a bit. Or maybe not. I don't know. I have never really looked at the lyrics or read anything about it. The three words Auld Lang Syne are generally translated as old times gone by, a long long time ago, for old times sake, and even more loosely- once upon a time.
And we'll tak' a cup o’ kindness yet-
Kindness makes everything better. And a cup o' kindness has to be especially good. Especially rewarding.
The melody is a Scots pentatonic folk melody. The meter is about the same as America the Beautiful which means one can meander through the words to both songs interchangeably. It was used in the Mickey Mouse 1930 cartoon called Chain Gang and a million other things. Weddings, funerals. Significant emotional events.
And will be sung a billion times tonight. A billion cups of kindness. We need that. That billion cup's o' kindness. Thanks Rabbie.
Auld Lang Syne
by Robert Burns
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-stoup!
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 pou'd the gowans fine;
But we've wander'd mony a weary fit,
sin' auld lang syne.
Chorus
We twa hae paidl'd in the burn,
frae morning 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 gude-willie waught,
for auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my jo,
for auld lang syne,
we'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
Thanks wiki (also I support wiki- help if you can- I think they do amazing stuff).