"Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?  Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and days of auld lang syne?"

Thousands of people all over the world sing these words every year on New Year's Eve.  Auld Lang Syne is probably one of the most well-known songs throughout the entirety of this earth.  However, only a handful of people know more than a few words of it.  It is a song that most people associate with the words "Scotland" or--as even more people associate the words with--"New Year."  However, do we really know the meaning behind this song?

Usually, when the music for Auld Lang Syne begins or someone starts to hum the tune, people immediately join in. The first verse goes something like this, "Should auld acquaintance be forgot and...rum tee tum dah dee...lah...lah...lah...lah...lah...lah...lah...lah...for the sake of auld lang syne."  The second verse often proceeds to continue something like this, "And here's a hmmm...hmmm...mmmm...mmm...etc...etc."  Until the entire company sings out, loud and proud, that famous line; all together and holding hands, of course: "FOR AULD LANG SYYYYYYYYNE!!!!!!!!"

Most people that know some history of Auld Lang Syne believe that a man by the name of Robert Burns wrote the song sometime in the 1700's.  Contrary to popular belief, however, Burns did not originally write these famous words.  In a way, he "restored" the piece based on fragments from an old ballad dating long before his time.  Most people have concluded that Burns added only a few verses to the original piece.  What is told to be the most compelling piece of evidence is a letter that Burns wrote to a woman by the name of Agnes Dunlop in which he says,  "Light be the turf on breast of the heaven - inspired poet who composed this glorious fragment!  There is more of the fire of native genius in it than in half a dozen of modern English Bacchanalians!"  Attached to the letter was Burns version of Auld Lang Syne.

I suppose a few of you are looking at the page with a rather puzzled look on your face, as was I when I read this.  In this statement, Burns confirms that someone wrote the original wonderous piece, but the original lyrics had been lost in the mists of time.  His reference to "light be the turf" refers to the dirt upon the original author's grave, and the "glorious fragment" confirms that Burns only added to the original.  As to why we sing Auld Lang Syne on New Year's Eve...I have yet to discover that information.  Perhaps next year we will have determined that.  But until then everyone, have a Happy New Year!