Since I'll be Working

The lot of a musician is that most folk's holidays, celebrations, ceremonies, and the like, are another day at the office for me. I'll be mostly on the road back and forth to California for a "command" performance New Year's Eve. One of the reasons I got the gig is that I do the Robbie Burn's version of Auld Lang Syne (not the Jacobite). It's a song with noble sentiments. Guy Lombardo should be flogged in hell for what he did to it. It can be done with the backing of the harp (my version) although, a piper, just makes it nice.

Burns told his publisher that he had written this song, tune and all, down from the singing of an old highlander, he was certain that it had never been published or documented. Without any further ado, I give you


Auld Lang Syne (1788)

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne!
For auld lang syne, my 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!
And surely I'll be mine!
And we'll tak a cup o'kindness yet,
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 pou'd the gowans fine;
But we've wander'd mony a weary fit,
Sin' auld lang syne.
Sin' auld lang syne, my dear,
Sin' auld lang syne,
We've wander'd mony a weary fit,
Sin' auld lang syne!

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn,
Frae morning sun till dine;
Bra' seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin' auld lang syne.
Sin' auld lang syne, my dear,
Sin' auld lang syne,
Bra' seas between us, braid hae roar'd
Sin' auld lang syne.

And there's a hand, my trusty fere!
And gie's a hand o' thine!
And we'll tak a right gude willie-waught,
For auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a right gude willie-waught
For auld lang syne.

(if you are having trouble with the Scots dialect here's a translation kindly posted)
I likes my Burns like I liked my whiskey. Straight.
Best wishes to all for the coming year.

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