Auld Lang Syne

Back in 2011 we visited Ayrshire, a county in Scotland where a line of my family came from many years ago. Ayrshire is the birthplace of the “Bard of Ayrshire”, the famous poet Robert Burns.

Burns is the author of a song that many people will be singing or listening to tonight – Auld Lang Syne. It’s sing not only New Year’s Eve, but at funerals and graduations. It’s sung in Inuktitut in Canada’s north, in Chinese, in Thai, and yes, there are versions in Spanish!

One of the people who popularized the song as a New Year’s Song on this side of the pond was Canadian band leader Guy Lombardo. Here’s Lombardo’s band with one rendition.

Burns wrote the song in 1788, when my great great great great grandfather and great great great great grandmother (Andrew and Janet Armour) were living in Ayrshire with their growing family.

While in Ayrshire we visited the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum. We have a picture of a painting based on his poem, A Cotter’s Saturday Night (a Cotter or Cottrill is someone who lives in or rents a small cottage) (see the painting here).

The Scots title Auld Lang Syne literally means old long since, and so for auld lang syne has been paraphrased for the sake of old times. The song pictures a couple of friends enjoying time together after a long time apart.

Here’s the first verse and chorus in his own handwriting from the museum:

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days o’ lang syne?

Chorus:
For auld lang syne, my jo, [my dear]
For auld lang syne,
We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

It’s a wonderful time to spend with friends and family. A wonderful time to value the old as we look ahead to the new.

The Bible talks a lot about remembering and forgetting. Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you. (Deuteronomy 32:7)

We remember that God freed us from our sin – something that humbles us and gives us hope and joy. We know that God won’t remember our sin if we belong to Christ – For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more. (Hebrews 8:12)

As the old year ends and the new one begins, let’s remember to value our friends and family. Let’s take the time to be with them. And let’s remember the great things that God has done – in the past and in our past.

I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
Yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
I will ponder all your work,
And meditate on your mighty deeds.
Your way, O God, is holy.
What god is great like our God?
You are the God who works wonders;
You have made known your might among the peoples.
(Psalm 77:11-14)