canasg choral music publishing

SG1024

Auld lang syne

words by Robert Burns (1759-1796)
(adapted from tradition)

tune traditional, arranged by Sheena Phillips
for unaccompanied SATB chorus

SATB performance time approx 4m 0s

Arranger's note

This song is usually sung in a loud drunken state on hogmanay (New Year's Eve). You can do that with this arrangement too if you wish - but I think the rather poignant meaning of the words is brought out well by using a softer dynamic for much of the song.

Although the words are usually attributed to Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), he himself claimed that he had taken the words down from the singing of an old man. Burns' own tune, though still known in Scotland, is less familiar than this now traditional one, chosen by Burns' publisher from an 18th century Scottish collection.

The theme of enduring friendship is suitable for any time of the year and in Scotland the song is not only reserved for hogmanay!

Music

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Words

Auld lang syne
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

auld - old
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?

auld lang syne - long ago

For auld lang syne, my jo, jo - dear
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

And surely ye'll be your pint stowp! stowp - measure
And surely I'll be mine!
And we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

We twa hae run about the braes, twa - two; hae - have; braes - hills
And pou'd the gowans fine; pou'd - pulled; gowans - daisies
But we've wandered mony a weary fitt, mony - many; fitt - foot
Sin auld lang syne. sin - since

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn, paddled in the stream
Frae morning sun till dine; frae - from; dine - dinner-time
But seas between us braid hae roar'd braid - broad
Sin auld lang syne.

And there's a hand, my trusty fiere! fiere - companion
And gie's a hand o' thine! gie's - give us
And we'll tak a right gude-willie-waught, cordial drink
For auld lang syne.

Robert Burns (1759-1796)
(adapted from tradition)

Price per copy Ł1.20 ($1.80)

Note: This price is for the first 20 licensed copies of the song, further copies cost only 25% of this price.

Companion pieces

Browse the 'Scots and Gaelic' or 'Christmas' sections of the Canasg catalogue for more songs like this one. To go there now, click on the 'catalogue' box to the right.

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