Does anyone know what the words Auld Lang Syne actually mean and just what the song is saying? "Should old acquaintance be forgot...etc, are they saying If you have forgotten just let it be water under the bridge ..or.. if you have forgotten those you should remember from the past try to give some thought to them. Or is it saying any of that at all. We sing it at New Years but I don't know anyone that knows why or what it means. Thanks.
2006-12-26 10:21:41 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Here's a translation, which you can see refers to a friendship between childhood friends who have been parted and met again. Literally it means that for the sake of our long friendship we should join hands and share a drink together in the spirit of good will. To extend that meaning it means that we should not forget our old friends and celebrate reunion with them.
Should old acquaintances be forgotten,
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintances be forgotten,
And days of long ago !
Chorus:
For old long ago, my dear
For old long ago,
We will take a cup of kindness yet
For old long ago.
We two have run about the hillsides
And pulled the daisies fine,
But we have wandered many a weary foot
For old long ago.
We two have paddled (waded) in the stream
From noon until dinner time,
But seas between us broad have roared
Since old long ago.
And there is a hand, my trusty friend,
And give us a hand of yours,
And we will take a goodwill draught (of ale)
For old long ago!
And surely you will pay for your pint,
And surely I will pay for mine!
And we will take a cup of kindness yet
For old long ago!
2006-12-26 10:41:57 · answer #1 · answered by Velouria 6 · 336⤊ 21⤋
If, perchance, a person I was formerly acquainted with should some how fade from my memory and I lack the cognitive skills to recall their identity; should such a thing happen then I pray that the same is not true of the days that came previously in the distant past.
2013-12-31 14:30:56 · answer #2 · answered by Bret 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The poet Byrnes did not write it, but he took an auld skottish phrase and traditional song and "edited" it tonsuchban extent that even we scottish can't translate it for ya!
2015-11-25 22:07:23 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Old Times Gone By - the great man of the common people and humanitarian Robert Burns, do a google search or go to a website www.scots-online.org/indexyuil.asp or www.rampantscotland.com/songs/blsongs_wee.htm he actually didn't create the song, but he saved it from obscurity and put it to an existing tune, and now it's sung around the world.
2006-12-26 10:35:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 64⤊ 28⤋
It's about remembering a past aquaintance. May have been a lost love, or childhood friend - I can't remember which.
2006-12-26 10:23:51 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 37⤊ 35⤋
Scottish for "old long ago." Or "a long time ago".
2006-12-26 10:24:03 · answer #6 · answered by . 7 · 58⤊ 30⤋