Old Long Since

We may all sing a bit of it tonight but we don't always remember quite what it means. 'Lang Syne' translates roughly as 'Long Since' or, even more roughly as 'Times Gone By'. So when you sing 'Auld Lang Syne', think 'Old Long Since' and you'll at least be on the right track.

Back on this day in 1999, with the 20th Century burning rapidly down to the quick, I had a go at 'translating' the original Burns language into something closer to my own.

So, with sincere apologies to my Scottish friends, here it is.

I'm not trying to be disrespectful to the wonderful original or even trying to be smart.

I'm just trying to commemorate the gentle wearing down of yet another old year and the rolling out of yet another new one.

Auld Lang Syne

Should old acquaintances be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And days of auld lang syne?

We two have run about the hills
And pulled the daisies fine
But we've wandered many a weary mile
Since auld lang syne.

We two have paddled in the streams
From morning sun till dine
But seas between us broad have roared
Since auld lang syne.

So there's a hand, my trusty friend
And give me a hand of thine
And we'll take just one more drink of cheer
For auld lang syne.

And surely you will stand your round
And maybe I'll stand mine
And we'll share that cup of kindness yet
For the sake of auld lang syne.

Robert Burns (25 January 1759 – 21 July 1796)


A Happy New Year to us all.

k x


16 comments:

Kat Mortensen said...

That's great! I don't think Robbie Burns would find anything wrong with you enabling his original poem/song to perpetuate for younger audiences, or those curious to know what he really meant.

Happy New Year to you and yours, Ken! See you in 2009.

Luv,

Kat

Debbie said...

And we'll take a cup of kindness yet

may we share many kindnesses in the coming year, thanks for becoming a part of my life. :)

Jena Isle said...

Happy New Year to you Ken, I wish you all the best in your writing career this 2009. Thanks for all the support and encouragement. God bless.

Anonymous said...

I always wondered what those two words meant but was too lazy to find out. Now you've done it for me! Reading all the lyrics instead of just listening to the song makes it even more sentimental.

Ken Armstrong said...

Happy New Year to all you lovely commenters! :)

Kat: I hope old Rabbie wouldn't mind. The original is lovely but I know I needed to look hard at it to understand it so I thought I'd share.

Debs: Thanks darlin'! I know that you'll stand your round and maybe I'll stand mine... :)

Jena: Many 2009 wishes for you. Perhaps we will go far-in-writing together and smile about it afterward. :)

Eavesdropwriter: Glad to help :) I hope you know that I think your blog is one of the most remarkable I have ever read and I always enjoy your writing. Onward into an overheard 2009! :)

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year to you and your family, Ken!

I hope you don't wake with a sore head tomorrow.

ê¿êM

Susan at Stony River said...

So much to look back on, and so much to be thankful right here right now: his song evokes it beautifully (especially as we get older!) but I think we've all sung it so much we've stopped listening.

Thanks for making it new again--it's a treasure.

So are you! HAPPY NEW YEAR Ken, you're a great friend and one of the blessings I'm counting tonight. Here's to a 2009 of all good things.
XX

Reese said...

Looking forward to a Happy New Year filled with Joy and Joyness.
(OK, I borrowed that last part from Charlie the unicorn)

hope said...

Quite a fitting tribute.

Here's to leaving the little annoyances behind and looking forward to great things to come.

Okay, so if we all don't become millionaires, at least we have each other. :)

Ken, best wishes to the ones you love and the ones who love you back.

tata said...

Happy New Year, Ken.

Alan said...

Isn't is Old Ann Sighs ?

Happy New Year 2009

Ken Armstrong said...

And a Happy New Year to all you lovely commenters who commented after my previous lovely comment! :)

Margaret: No hangover - several cokes, lots of dessert and a coffee - people might be surprised at how *very* little I actually drink. :)

Susan: I sung it with some gusto last night - not pretty, I'm sure.

Reese: Charlie the Unicorn has a forgiving nature. :)

Hope: Who wants to be a millionaire anyway. Emmm...

Tata: Thanks, you too mate.

Alan: Not for you she doesn't... Old Andy sighs maybe :)

Dominic Rivron said...

Happy New Year!

Lang may your lumb reek,as they say, apparently, however you spell it :)

Fiendish said...

Ah, happy new year Ken!

Hope you and family had much fun ringing in the new year at Casa del Fiendish :D

And I like your "Auld Lang Syne" very much.

Ken Armstrong said...

Dominic: Cheers! Not sure about my lumb reeking but I'll have a shower just in case. :)

Fiendish: I had a ball, thank you. Aren't you lucky that I didn't sing all the verses? :)

Dave King said...

And the best of 2009 to you and yours.