You may have stayed up late enough last New Year’s Eve to sing (or at least to hear) “Auld Lang Syne.” Have you ever wondered what this means and why we sing it on New Year’s Eve? For that matter, do you really know the words in old Scottish or in modern English?
The term, “Auld Lang Syne” comes from an 18th century poem written in the Scottish language of that day. It translates to, “Old Long Since,” or in modern English, “Times Gone By.” It is too bad that most of us don’t know the meaning of this poem, because it is about an important topic for seniors, and therefore for OurSeniors.net.
Basically, it is about remembering friends from the past. The core of the song is that when good people come into, or leave your life, it is a good idea to take a moment, raise a glass and remember the ones we have loved. If properly understood, several of the verses describe the sadness of those days when distance really did separate people permanently. A young Scot who left home for the New World would likely never see his loved ones again.
Today, we have regular phones, smart phones, computers, tablets, websites and other incredible devices to help us keep in touch. Seniors are just as much a part of this picture as are teenagers. In fact, recent data has shown that seniors are more likely to spend time on sites like Facebook than their younger relatives. That is just the reason that Ourseniors.net is so devoted to these new forms of communication. We know that this is the future for Our Seniors as well as it is for their children and grandchildren. That is why we are here in so many ways. Click on any of them to see:
- Ourseniors.net Magazine
- Ourseniors.net Media
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- Senior Transition Pro Team
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- Ourseniors.net on Google +
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Just in case you are curious about those lyrics, here they are in the original Scottish and in modern English too!
| Auld Lang Syne Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And days o’ lang syne. For auld lang syne, my dear For auld lang syne, We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet For auld lang syne. We twa hae run about the braes, And pu’d the gowans fine, But we’ve wander’d mony a weary foot Sin’ auld lang syne. We twa hae paidl’t in the burn Frae morning sun till dine, But seas between us braid hae roar’d Sin’ auld lang syne. And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere, And gie’s a hand o’ thine, And we’ll tak a right guid willie-waught For auld lang syne. And surely ye’ll be your pint’ stoup, And surely I’ll be mine. And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet For auld lang syne! | Times Gone By Should old acquaintances be forgotten, And never brought to mind? Should old acquaintances be forgotten, And days of long ago. For times gone by, my dear For times gone by, We will take a cup of kindness yet For times gone by. We two have run about the hillsides And pulled the daisies fine, But we have wandered many a weary foot For times gone by. We two have paddled in the stream From noon till dine, But seas between us broad have roared Since times gone by. And there is a hand, my trusty friend, And give us a hand of thine, And we will take a goodwill drink (of ale) For times gone by. And surely you will pay for your pint, And surely I will pay for mine. And we will take a cup of kindness yet For times gone by! |
