Auld Lang Syne, for Old Time’s Sake

All over the English-speaking world, people break out in song on New Year’s Eve. From Australia to Canada, from the United States to the United Kingdom, and from New Zealand to the song’s ancestral home in Scotland, Auld Lang Syne marks the final hours of the year. It’s a song of remembrance, a celebration of the good times, and a promise not to forget. But how did an old Scottish poem become a global tradition?

Just How Auld Is Auld Lang Syne?

In 1788, Robert Burns submitted the poem Auld Lang Syne to the Scots Musical Museum. He claimed it was an ancient song but that he was the first to put it to paper. Roughly translated, the phrase “auld lang syne” means for old time’s sake, long ago, days gone by, and even the good old days.

It comes from old Scots, a West Germanic language like English and a sister language to English. It’s similar to Scottish English, but it’s unique to more than 1.5 million speakers in Scotland as of the 2022 census. It grew out of Early Middle English, just as modern English did, and was the official language of Scotland before English became dominant.

Auld simply means old, and the combination of lang and syne basically means long ago. Both were used separately since at least the 16th century but are commonly known today because of the title of the New Year’s Eve song Auld Lang Syne.

Burns claimed his poem was based on an older folk song, meaning its roots run far deeper in history, and there is some evidence of similar phrases appearing in older Scottish verses from as far back as the 1500s. Burns’ version is 237 years old.

A Song and Sentiment of Nostalgia Around the World

According to an article by Scotland.org, Auld Lang Syne – which is a good bit longer than most people realize – became a much-loved Scottish tradition. Singers stand in a circle holding hands. At the beginning of the final verse, they cross their arms over their chests and clasp hands again in that position. When the song ends, they rush to the middle still holding hands.

The final verse reads:

“And there’s a hand, my trusty friend!

“And give us a hand of yours!

“And we’ll take a deep draught of good-will

“For long, long ago.”

Most of the English-speaking world, however, uses just the first verse, singing these words before or right at midnight on New Year’s Eve:

“Should auld acquaintance be forgot?

“And never brought to mind?

“Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

“And auld lang syne.”

The song’s sentiment and influence extend far beyond the English-speaking world, too. The tune was adapted for Japan’s graduation song Hotaru no Hikari. It’s used as a farewell in China called Friendship Forever and for the Dutch football anthem Wij Houden Van Oranje. It even inspired parts of India’s Purano shei diner kotha, or Memories of the Good Old Days in English.

But wherever you hear its strains, the various adaptations have a singular meaning: The times are changing, but remember the old days and the friends who shared them.

1. Auld Lang Syne, the anthem that marks New Year’s Eve around the world, is roughly translated to mean for old time’s sake, long ago, days gone by, and even the good old days.
2. In 1788, Robert Burns submitted the old Scottish poem Auld Lang Syne to the Scots Musical Museum, claiming it was an ancient song that he was the first to put to paper.
3. The familiar music inspired a Japanese graduation song, a Chinese farewell tune, and a Dutch football anthem.