(no subject)

[nerdfury.livejournal.com]

Happy new year, guys! For those that have passed the midnight hour and are well into the new day, I hope your celebrations were awesome, and your hangovers minimal! For those yet to hit the chime, be safe and have fun! Also, make sure you have ingredients for coffee (or tea!), some bacon and egg sammiches and Tomorrow You will be your friend forever!

For something different, I'd like to post the original lyrics to Auld Lang Syne. They mean a lot to me, since we sang the song regularly when I was in the Scouts, and my Troop Leader always insisted on the original* version, rather than the English version. Through my own research, I also found out that Robert Burns is related to my own family, albeit very distantly - still, it's a great piece of heritage to have!

So, reflect back on the past year and remember your friendships. I hope everyone has a fantastic 2012, and all you wish for comes to pass.

*And yes, I realise that James Watson wrote it in 1711, but honestly - who remembers that guy?

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 your pint-stowp!

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 pu’d the gowans fine;

But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit,

sin auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We twa hae paidl’d i' the burn,

frae morning sun till dine;

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-willy waught,

for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

Comments

[tsubasa-en11.livejournal.com]

Happy New Year! Thanks for all your hard work last year and looking forward to your great work this year, too. May 2012 a year better than 2011 for you. ^^

[ersatz-read.livejournal.com]

Happy new year! I bought bacon and eggs yesterday so 2012 is okay so far.

Here's a link to more Scottish song lyrics, plus explanations of the words in Auld Lang Syne for those of us who need it: http://www.rampantscotland.com/songs/blsongs_index.htm.

[kimuro.livejournal.com]

Bliadhna Mhath Ùr dhuibh.

(Yes, that's Scottish Gaelic, not Lallans - I do know the difference, but this is the one I know.)

One question ... English version of the song? That's the one I've always heard and sung.

[nerdfury.livejournal.com]

Are you saying you only know the version I posted, or the version that's translated into 'simple' English?

[nerdfury.livejournal.com]

Wait. A non-stalkery glance at your profile pretty much answers my question, and would probably answer yours. :P

I'm guessing it depends on where you're from and your upbringing, really. Here in Australia, we have a very rich Scottish heritage. Being in the Scouts with a old traditionalist troop leader, we taught us the traditional version, rather than the 'simple English' version that many others know so well. Being Scottish myself (Clann Mhic Ljotr - Clan MacLeod of Harris), I always took to this version.

As far as I'm aware, Robert Burns initially wrote it in a traditional English, mixed with Scottish turns of phrase (e.g., 'pint-stowp' or 'gude-willy waught') as I have yet to come across a legitimate document showing it written in anything else.

If you're Scottish/just really interested in Scottish culture/heritage/were exposed to said culture via your family/region/whatever else, then you'd probably mainly hear this version. But, fairly commonly around other parts of the world (at least, where sung in English and not re-translated to their own languages) is a re-translated version made into a simpler English, for those that don't know how to pronounce the original version.

[kimuro.livejournal.com]

My apologies for not being clear. The version which you posted is the version with which I am familiar. I was not aware that there was an English translation in common use.

As you've guess, I'm American, an American of Irish descent. One of my more re-inforced memories of New Year's Eve was of the big band celebrations, the countdown to the New Year followed by the singing of the first two verses (by a trained singer. Now, they just play the music and the crowd supplies the words, mumbling so that no one is sure exactly what it is that they are singing!).

[zeto.livejournal.com]

Happy New Year!