Robert Burns sent a copy of the original song to the Scots Musical Museum with the remark, "The following song, an old song, of the olden times, and which has never been in print, nor even in manuscript until I took it down from an old man." Some of the lyrics were indeed "collected" rather than composed by the poet; the ballad "Old Long Syne" printed in 1711 by James Watson shows considerable similarity in the first verse and the chorus to Burns' later poem, and is almost certainly derived from the same "old song".Should Old Acquaintance be forgot,
and never thought upon;
The flames of Love extinguished,
and fully past and gone:
Is thy sweet Heart now grown so cold,
that loving Breast of thine;
That thou canst never once reflect
On Old long syne.
- CHORUS:
- On Old long syne my Jo,
On Old long syne,
That thou canst never once reflect,
On Old long syne.
This is the version we generally sing here.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, for days of auld lang syne?
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I've included a few favorite versions of the song on my SoundCloud playlist on the
top right, scroll down if you'd like to hear other versions.
from Music Through the Year |
Ring out the old, Ring in the New!
from Music Through the Year |
Old Father Annum
Old Father Annum on New Year's Day
Picked up his bag of months and years,
Thrust in his hand in a careless way,
And pulled a wee fellow out by the ears.
"There you are," said he to the waiting crowd,
"He's as good as any I have in my pack,
I never can tell, but I hope to be proud
Of the little rascal when I come back."
~ Leroy F. Jackson
Old Father Annum on New Year's Day
Picked up his bag of months and years,
Thrust in his hand in a careless way,
And pulled a wee fellow out by the ears.
"There you are," said he to the waiting crowd,
"He's as good as any I have in my pack,
I never can tell, but I hope to be proud
Of the little rascal when I come back."
~ Leroy F. Jackson
Happy New Year to All!
However you celebrate, I hope it is Merry and Safe!
See you all soon!
~~Diane~~