"Give me your hand and let's celebrate our friendship for old times' sake" is the focal meaning of this song, which is certainly the most famous of Burns' works.
Inspired by an old Scots ballad, it is today sung at the end of every Burns 'supper, at the beginning of each New Year and used as the International Anthem of the world, inviting all people to join hands and celebrate the universal values of life and friendship.
It was first popularized by band leader Guy Lombardo in 1939, at New Year's celebrations in America and ever since it has gained an increasing significance and has been associated with diverse meanings across countries, signifying either a beginning, or an end and a major parting.
But the reach of this song does not stop here, as it has become an inspiration for contemporary films ranging from the 1942 re-release of the Charlie Chaplin film "The Gold Rush", to "Ghostbusters", "Kill Bill", "Sex and the city" and "When Harry met Sally." In the last one, Harry states he never fully understood what the song meant and says "I mean, 'Should old acquaintance be forgot'? Does that mean that we should forget old acquaintances, or does it mean if we happened to forget them, we should remember them, which is not possible because we already forgot?"
Well, that I guess we will never know, but we can only hope each one of us will give the song the meaning he truly desires...hopefully, while still holding hands!
Standard English Translation
Old Long Past
Chorus.
And for old long past, my joy (sweetheart),
For old long past,
We will take a cup of kindness yet,
For old long past,
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And days of old long past.
And surely you will pay for your pint-vessel!
And surely I will pay for mine!
And we will take a cup of kindness yet,
For old long past.
We two have run about the hillsides
And pulled the wild daisies fine;
But we have wandered many a weary foot
Since old long past.
We two have paddled in the stream,
From morning sun till noon;
But seas between us broad have roared
Since old long past.
And there is a hand, my trusty friend!
And give me a hand of yours!
And we will take a right good-will drink,
For old long past.
Auld Lang Syne
Chorus.
And for auld lang syne, my jo,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne,
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days o' 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.
We twa hae run about the braes
And pu'd the gowans fine;
But we've wander'd mony a weary foot
Sin auld lang syne.
We twa hae paidl'd i' the burn,
Frae mornin' sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin auld lang syne.
And there's a hand, my trusty fiere!
And gie's a hand o' thine!
And we'll tak a right guid willy waught,
For auld lang syne.