Bring Back Burns!
Will you be singing Auld Lang Syne at Hogmanay?
A survey by Sainsbury’s has found that only 3% of Brits know all the words to Auld Lang Syne, and more than half didn’t know it was written by Robert Burns!
Despite it being a Hogmanay tradition north of the border to sing Auld Lang Syne at the bells, Scots didn’t fare much better – only 7% said they knew it off by heart.
Is the poetry of Burns falling out of favour? According to the survey it’s the younger generations that will need the most help as 42% of millennials admit that they don’t know a single word.
There is hope, though, as a third of those celebrating Hogmanay in the UK are planning a rendition as the bells chime in 2018.
If you’re planning a Hogmanay gathering, then help reinstate the tradition by singing Auld Lang Syne holding hands in a circle, and crossing hands for the last verse.
Below is a helpful song sheet of Burns’ original Scots verse, penned in 1788, to keep your guests on the right track!
Overseas readers, don’t forget that you can double click many of the Scots words for a helpful pronunciation guide.
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 dear,
For auld lang syne.
We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
And surely ye’ll be your pint stowp!
And surely I’ll be mine!
And we’ll tak a cup o’kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
For auld, &c.
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.
For auld, &c.
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.
For auld, &c.
And there’s a hand, my trusty fere!
And gie’s a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll tak a right gude-willie waught,
For auld lang syne.
For auld, &c.
More Burns
“I think I may safely pronounce him a genius of no ordinary rank.”
Click here to read our First Review of Burns’ poetry by Henry MacKenzie in 1786!
Click here for little-known facts about the bard
Click here for Burns’ self-penned epitaph
