'Auld Lang Syne'
Does New Year's Eve have an official song? If our year-end celebration did, "Auld Lang Syne" would likely receive universal approval. Of Scottish origin, the words translate as "old long ago." Although the lyrics of this composition are often credited to Scottish poet Robert Burns, he actually adapted the words from ancient lore.The music's origin is unknown. We have Guy Lombardo and his band, the Royal Canadians, to thank for indoctrinating "Auld Lang Syne" into our contemporary New Year's Eve tradition. Lombardo first played it for a 1929 radio broadcast and the rest, as they say, is history.
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1. Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And the days of auld lang syne?
And days of auld lang syne, my dear,
And days of auld lang syne,
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And days of auld lang syne?
2. And here's a hand my trusty friend,
And give a hand of thine,
We'll take a cup of kindness yet
For 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.
Christmas sheet music: "Auld Lang Syne"
Singing and playing Christmas carols is a great way to bring together friends and family to celebrate the season. Whether your holiday celebrations are boisterous and joyful or solemn and reverent, you now know plenty of carols to fit the mood.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Gilbert DeBenedetti teaches music at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg and at the Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Music Theory and Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in Music Education and Music Composition. He is the author of The Creative Pianist, Piano Playing Made Easy: Popular Songs, Piano Playing Made Easy: Sunday Songs, and Piano Playing Made Easy: Christmas Songs.
Gail Cohen has written for dozens of publications and organizations. She is the author of
Joy of Christmas, A Bristol Falls Christmas Carol and Nativity Stories, Pocketful of Memories: Christmas Memories, among other titles.
