As we close out 2025, we'll take a cup of kindness yet for auld lang syne : Shared by Tom McDermott

 

Auld Lang Syne - The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin

Lyrics
Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot, and auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we’ll take a cup of kindness yet for auld lang syne.
And surely you’ll buy your pint cup, and surely I’ll buy mine!
And we’ll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne ...
We two have paddled in the stream, from morning sun ‘till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared since auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne ... And there’s a hand my trusty friend!
And gi’es a hand o’ thine!
We’ll take a right goodwill draught, for auld lang syne! For auld lang syne ...

The passage from the old to the new year at midnight has been celebrated for over two centuries now by singing Robert Burns’ poem. This was first printed in 1788 although the author himself acknowledged that its origins lie in an n earlier Scots-language ballad printed in 1711 by James Wilson.


Original Scots version written down by Burns

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

Chorus:
For auld lang syne, my jo,
for auld lang syne,
we'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

And surely ye'll be[b] your pint-stoup!
and surely I'll be mine!
And we'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

Chorus

We twa hae run about the braes,
and pou'd the gowans fine;
But we've wander'd mony a weary fit,
sin' auld lang syne.

Chorus

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn,
frae morning sun till dine;[c]
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
sin' auld lang syne.

Chorus

And there's a hand, my trusty fiere!
and gie's a hand o' thine!
And we'll tak' a right gude-willie waught,
for auld lang syne.