A Brief History of Auld Lang Syne

The song we love to sing at the stroke of midnight marking the beginning of a New Year, "Auld Lang Syne" was written as a poem by Scottish poet Robert Burns in about 1788. Auld Lang Syne literally means, in Lowland Scottish, "old long since", but can be summed up as "days gone by" or "once upon a time".

In 1796, Robert Burns gave a copy of the song to James Johnson, who included it in his collection of songs in The Scots Musical Museum. Johnson published the song in December 1796 after Robert Burns' death. It was also included in George Thomson's "A Collection of Original Scottish Airs" which was published from 1793 to 1818. It is to Thomson's tune that we sing this song today, the original melody long lost.

Did You Know?

1. Auld Lang Syne was originally sung at the end of a gathering, such as a dinner party or a dance, as guests bid eachother farewell. Those who sang the song formed a circle, each person crossing their arms at the chest and holding hands with the person next to them. At the end of the song, everyone ran to the middle of the circle still holding the hands of his or her neighbor before reforming the circle, at which time they all turned under the arms facing outwards and still holding hands. Sounds like a grand ol' time, doesn't it?

2. Though there are approximately 2000 versions of the song recorded by various artists, it was popularized by Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians when they played it during a New Year's eve party in New York City in 1929.

3. Auld Lang Syne has five verses in addition to its chorus; however, only the first verse and the chorus are sung. Ironically, most people don't know all of the words and somehow seem to muddle through it.

4. The official version of the song does not include the words "the days of auld lang syne".

5. Auld Lang Syne is the official song for the Kilties Drum and Bugle Corps.

Auld Lang Syne has withstood the test of time and is widely popular in English-speaking countries, including the United States, where every New Year across the country, the song is heard from the streets as party goers sing it at the stroke of midnight to mark the end of one year and the start of a new one.