Shid ald akwentans bee firgot, and nivir brocht to mynd?
Shid ald akwentans bee firgot, an ald lang syn?
Fir ald lang syn, ma jo, fir ald lang syn,
wil tak a cup of kyndnes yet, fir ald lang syn.
We twa hay rin aboot the braes, and pood the gowans fyn;
bit weev wander moneae a weery fet, sin auld lang syn.
We twa hay pedilt in the burn, fray mornin sun til dyn;
but seas between us bred hay roard sin ald lang syn.
An sheerly yil bee yur pynt-staup and sheerly al bee myn!
An will tak a cup o kindness yet, fir ald lang syne.
Fir ald lang syn, ma jo, fir ald lang syn,
Wil tak a a cup o kyndnes yet, fir ald lang syn.
You have just read the original Celtic version of the famous song by Robert Burns (1788) that we traditionally sing on New Years Eve. It is fun to sing it as a Scot would have back in the day. But after struggling through the Brogue or Glaswegian dialect and even reading today's English version, one might ask what the song is about. Well, here is one interpretation. The song is asking a basic question: “Should old friends and acquaintances as well as old times be forgotten?” The chorus goes on to suggest that it is appropriate to remember and honor the good old days over a pint. You buy your drink and I’ll buy mine and we will honor the past. The song recognizes that together with old friends we did a lot of running around and picking flowers, but a lot of miles have passed since then. Back in the day, we paddled streams together from daylight 'til dusk, but many seas have been crossed since the old days. There has been a lot of water under the bridge. I did not record the final words above, but the song concludes by saying, "Here’s my hand old friend, and now you give me yours and we will take a long draw on the pint for the good times.”
I could drone on for hours about my early years. I could recite the escapades of Eric with fantastic stories that would challenge belief. I could tell you tales of long-lived laughter as well as chronicles of intense sorrow. But, no matter how invested you became in my story, I could never offer you the realism of one who was there. Occasionally, I run across those who were there when I was younger. Normally, I have not seen them for a long, long time because I tend to move on. We have each moved on to new hills, new streams, and new lives, and we are not familiar with the others' path. But for a magical moment we remember the time that we were together. We remember the prom, the loss of a friend, the big game, the party, the fight, the team, the old compadres, the teacher, the dorm, the wedding, the trip, the job, and our conjoined history before the road separated. And maybe we share a cup. Then, when the words run dry, we move on because while the memory is rich, it is a cheerful spirit from a long while ago. We are not who we were, and we have things to do in our current walk.
So, in 2025, let us lift a cup to auld lang syne, the days of old. Let us look back and smile or drop a tear for those from our past, living and dead. And then, let us move on. We have a present to experience and a future to build for ourselves and others. We have life to live, people to influence, and a future to anticipate. Let us enjoy our walk with our current friends and acquaintances, knowing that someday, down the road, after a time of absence, we may be lifting a cup together while remembering the old days.
