POEM OF THE DAY

One Burns song will be ringing round the world today. We all know it, of course, but how accurately? Here is the version from the authoritative Oxford edition of Burns poems and songs, edited by James Kinsley. Note there is no “for the sake of” – and the two lyrical stanzas about childhood friendship may bear an echo of the Scottish diaspora and the Clearances.

AULD LANG SYNE

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 stowp! And surely I’ll be mine!

And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet, For auld lang syne.

For auld, etc.

We twa hae run about the braes,

And pou’d the gowans fine;

But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fitt, Sin auld lang syne

For auld, etc.

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, etc.

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, etc.