Warning: An attempt at critical analysis. Very wordy.

The song

Auld Lang Syne.

Old school song often heard during New year.

A quest to find the lyrics to this song resulted in me trying to practice my critical analysis skills from lit lessons 2 years ago.

It's an old scottish tune that literally means "old long ago", or simply "the old times".

Below shows the full 5 verses of the song. The 2 verses that people usually sing are verses 1 & 5, and the chorus. Purple is the original lyric, black the translation, italics belong to me talking to myself.


Auld Lang Syne

Verse 1:
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days of auld lang syne!

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind.
should old acquaintance be forgotten
as with the old times

Chorus:
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne,
We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet
For auld lang syne!

For the old times, my dear,
for the old times.
we'll take a cup of kindness---------------------- Why do you need kindness? to forgive past
for the old times. wrongdoings, or just a simple toast to friendship? fate has been kind to allow them to meet again?

Verse 2:

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!

And surely you will pay for your pint, -------------- no free loader? a clear distinction between
and i will pay for mine. 2 parts, they don't function as a whole?
we'll take a cup of kindness yet they do not want to burden each other.
for the old times. a hint at a lack/decrease in familiarity? there is a polite social distance at the start, wary of how the other might have changed? Maturity. They can afford their own.

[Chorus]

Verse 3:

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 two have run about the hillsides-------------- daisies a metaphor for girls or fun..
And pulled the daisies fine, reminiscing old times, freedom of youth,
But we have wandered many a weary foot innocence, which is no longer with the
Since the old times. responsibilities of adulthood, life has tired them out? weary foot = hard times? juxtaposition; run=lightfooted vs weary foot. imagery of transition from child to adult. wandered gives image of being lost/uncertain.

[Chorus]

Verse 4:

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.

We two have paddled in the stream------------gone thru a lot together, spent a lot of time
From noon until dinner time, together.. broad roaring seas = obstacles?
But seas between us broad have roared a divider between the friends. distance; emo
Since the old times. & physical. juxtaposition of the calm stream and the roaring seas provides an imagery of the transition from stress-free childhood to harsh realities and responsibilities as an adult. seperation by the broad seas also hint at a lack of knowledge of the other's current situation. a sense of nostalgia maybe? is he coping?

[Chorus]

Verse 5:

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 here's a hand my trusted friend-------------a handshake. a sign of trust, reconcillation?
And give a hand of yours. peace offering, a familiar face at last?
We'll take a good will draught of ale--------------a toast to the friendship? to the journey they for old time's sake have travelled; apart, yet together. maybe the memory of lighthearted fun in the old times help them pull through during the toughest days?

[Chorus]

So.. this song is sung to say good bye to the old year, and welcome the new year right? How does the story line fit in?

Should old acquaintances be forgotten just because the year has gone by? The years may pass, by the memories should stay as they are the chains that will bring us together again someday.

To remember the peaceful streams maybe, but not the raging seas?

Life's experiences though somewhat different, bind us in it's similarity?

Friendship?

I suck at conclusions.. bah.

I somehow got sucked into the world of the literature specialists when i read the lyrics of the song. I just had to dissect the words, read between the lines, pick out the nuances, identify the techniques and...... it goes on. (not really, i can't really remember what else, my brain is slowing down, have not slept for.... too long)

Anyway, i had fun. And i miss literature so much.

And there you go. Auld Lang Syne.

Source:
http://web.ripnet.com/~nimmos/auld_lang_syne.html