With most of the country practically closed, New Year’s Eve celebrations will be calm this year.
Pubs and restaurants are closed, indoor meetings are prohibited and fireworks do not normally happen.
But that does not mean that people will not be celebrating the end of 2020 and looking carefully at whatever 2021 may bring.
Families and support bubbles can open the champagne, count down until midnight, and kiss when the time comes.
And we can expect to hear the choruses of Robert Burns’ famous farewell, Auld Lang Syne.
A nostalgic song about friends reminiscing about the past and looking to the future, Auld Lang Syne is traditionally sung at midnight to see the past year and welcome to the new.
See how it started, what it means and the lyrics for you to sing along with.
What does Auld Lang Syne mean?
Auld Lang Syne can be translated as “a long time ago”, “old days” or “days gone by”. It is a folk song by Robert Burns (who said he “took it from an old man” who heard it singing), traditionally used as a farewell in Scotland.
(Image: PA)
It is sung on the Night of Hogmanay and Burns, and at the end of weddings, funerals and ceilidhs.
Auld Lang Syne quickly became a tradition on New Year’s Eve in the British Isles and around the world.
What are the lyrics of Auld Lang Syne?
If you want to sing along with Auld Lang Syne on New Year’s Eve this year, the lyrics are as follows:
If an old acquaintance is forgotten,
and never brought to mind?
If an old acquaintance is forgotten,
and days of auld lang syne?
CHOIR:
To auld lang syne, my jo,
for auld lang syne,
we will still have a cup of kindness,
for auld lang syne.
And you will certainly be his pint-stoup!
and for sure I will be mine!
And let’s still have a cup of kindness,
for auld lang syne.
CHOIR
We both run over the bras,
and pou’d the gowans as well;
But we lost money a tiring adjustment,
sin ‘auld lang syne.
CHOIR
We both pay for the burning,
morning sun until dinner;
But the seas between us twisted and roared
sin ‘auld lang syne.
(Image: Getty)
CHOIR
And there is a hand, my faithful fiere!
and give a hand!
And let’s take a gude-willie right,
for auld lang syne.
CHOIR
What are the English lyrics?
Auld Lang Syne translated into English looks like this:
If an old acquaintance is forgotten,
and never brought to mind?
If an old acquaintance is forgotten,
and days long ago?
CHOIR:
For days ago, my dear,
for days long ago,
we will still have a cup of kindness,
for days a long time.
And you will definitely buy your beer glass!
and I will definitely buy mine!
And let’s still have a cup of kindness,
for days a long time.
CHOIR
We both run down the slopes,
and picked the daisies well;
But we wander a lot of tired feet,
since days ago.
CHOIR
We both row in the stream,
from morning sun until dinner;
But the wide seas between us roared
since days ago.
CHOIR
And there is a hand, my trusted friend!
And give me your hand!
And let’s do a draft of goodwill,
for days a long time.
CHOIR