Auld Lang Syne, a traditional song
- Découvrir un aspect de la thématique d'étude la mise en scène de soi
- Découvrir un poème et une chanson traditionnelle de l'Écossais Robert Burns
- Auld Lang Syne était, à l'origine, un poème du 18me siècle écrit par Robert Burns. Il fut adapté en chanson.
- La chanson est entonnée lors d'événements marquant le terme de quelque chose : le Nouvel An, une remise de diplômes, des funérailles... Par conséquent, elle symbolise les nouveaux départs.
- L'amitié et son souvenir sont au cœur des paroles. Et c'est un ton nostalgique qui domine.
- Traduite dans de nombreuses langues, chantées par de grands artistes, Auld Lang Syne est l'exemple même d'une chanson à (très grand) succès.
Auld Lang Syne [ˈɔːl(d) lɑŋˈsaɪn] is originally a poem written by Robert Burns, a Scottish poet, in 1788. It then became a traditional folk song. The title of the poem can be translated into standard English by old long since or long long ago and people sing it at the end of the year when the clock strikes midnight as a way of saying goodbye to the past year. By extension, it is also sung when something comes to an end (graduations, departures, funerals...).
The first two lines of the poem / song:
And never brought to mind
makes it clear that its author feels concerned with friendship and makes a point of remembering those who leave us, whatever the reason. Even if it is written in the interrogative form, we understand that we should / must not forget them as it is important to keep them alive in our hearts.
And we must not forget either the days gone by, for the lyrics are tinted with nostalgia. Indeed, can’t the lines:
And surely I'll buy mine!
And we'll take a cup o' kindness yet,
for auld lang syne
be considered as an appropriate toast for the New Year now that the old one is over?
Nowadays, the song is traditionally sung
in English-speaking countries on
New Year’s Eve. In Scotland
where the song was born, people form a great circle, join
their hands and sing the song at Hogmanay
(Scottish word for
New Year’s Eve).
As was said before, Auld Lang Syne can
be sung on different occasions but it always
symbolizes endings and of course new
beginnings. As far as politics is concerned, you can
hear it for instance when a new government is
elected or when a British colony gets its
independence... The English surely sang it when they
left Europe.
The song is so popular that lots of artists
(Jimy Hendrix, Boney M,
Red Hot Chili Peppers...) have sung
Auld Lang Syne. You can
also hear it at the end of
Downtown Abbey’s last episode
(season 6).
And of course the song is associated with celebrations
and memorials of Robert Burns who composed most of
the poem.
As Scots emigrated around the world they took the song
with them and consequently
Auld Lang Syne has been translated
into many different languages and is now sung all
over the world, not only in English speaking
countries.
It is known in France under the title
Ce n’est qu’un au revoir,
in the Netherlands it is sung at football
matches, in Japan it is played at many school
graduation ceremonies... It was even the national anthem
of the South Korean exile government, when
South Korea was under Japanese rule,
from 1919 to 1945 before the melody became the
national anthem from 1945 to 1948!
Burns’ poem has crossed the borders and become
a hit worldwide.
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?
Chorus:
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 o' kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
Chorus
We two have run about the hills,
and picked the daisies fine;
But we've wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.
Chorus
We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.
Chorus
And there's a hand my trusty friend!
And give me a hand o' thine!
And we'll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.
Chorus
Few songs can boast about such success but Auld Lang Syne is undeniably one of those. And it is a good thing of course because it shows how deeply attached to friendship and nostalgia people are, all over the world. They praise these values and they do not want to forget their friends nor the good days which have gone by. Even though all good things must come to an end, they must be remembered.

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