Auld Lang Syne Lyrics and Sing-A-Long Video from “Waterloo Bridge”

Dec 31, 2010

All over the world the Auld Lang Syne lyrics are sung to ring in the New Year. My favorite video for this purpose on YouTube is this one below, done by JunoDante in 2006 using scenes from the movie “Waterloo Bridge” (an excellent movie, by the way). The video uses the 1940 version of the film, starring Vivien Leigh and Robert Taylor. The Old Lang Syne lyrics in this version skip a few verses and repeat over and over so as to finish out the whole story of the movie; but I’ve never minded as I enjoy the video so much.

The Auld Lang Syne meaning is somewhat difficult to grasp since it was originally written in Scotland by poet Robert Burns (who claimed it was really a folk song that he just wrote down). The ancient dialect used then probably made perfect sense to him, but for us several centuries later, it’s a bit obscure. “Auld Lang Syne” literally translated means “old long since,” which we take to mean “long time ago” and extrapolate the meaning of the song to be celebrating the good times and friendship of past years. Don’t forget to toast your friends with champagne while singing Auld Lang Syne tonight!

Auld Lang Syne Lyrics

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.

CHORUS

We twa hae run about the braes,
and pu’d the gowans fine ;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit,
sin auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We twa hae paidl’d i’ 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-willy waught,
for auld lang syne.

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