Mark Gresham | 31 DEC 2024
As the clock ticks towards midnight on this New Year’s Eve, a familiar melody often fills the air, its notes weaving through the celebrations, a gentle reminder of time’s passage and the bonds that tie us. “Auld Lang Syne,” is a song whose origins lie deep in Scotland’s poetic and musical heritage, yet has become a universal anthem for farewell and reunion.
The song’s roots trace back to Robert Burns, Scotland’s beloved poet, who sent a copy of the lyrics to the “Scots Musical Museum” in 1788. Burns claimed he was merely transcribing an old folk song, but his version captured the imagination of generations with its poignant questions about whether old times should be forgotten. The title, translating roughly to “old long since,” encapsulates a sentiment of nostalgia and continuity.
Yet, “Auld Lang Syne” wasn’t always the global New Year’s anthem we know today. Its journey to becoming a symbol of new beginnings was both gradual and serendipitous. In Scotland, it was initially sung at the end of Burns Suppers, a tradition celebrating the poet’s birthday. But its association with New Year’s Eve was somewhat accidental, credited to the likes of Guy Lombardo, an American bandleader whose annual radio and later TV broadcasts from New York’s Times Square in the early 20th century popularized the practice.
The melody we recognize now, with its haunting, yet uplifting tune, was composed by George Thomson, who set Burns’ lyrics to music in 1799. This version struck a chord, quite literally, with its simple, singable melody that feels like a warm embrace from the past. Over time, “Auld Lang Syne” has been adapted into numerous languages and musical styles, from classical renditions to jazz interpretations, each adding a layer to its cultural mosaic.
What makes “Auld Lang Syne” so enduring? Perhaps it’s the song’s ability to evoke a collective memory, to remind us of shared experiences of friends and times gone by while simultaneously looking forward. Its lyrics ask not just if we should forget the old times, but also encourage us to raise a cup “for auld lang syne,” in honor of those memories, urging us to embrace the new year with the old friends and the new.
The song has seen its share of historical moments, too. During World War I, soldiers from both sides of the conflict reportedly sang it during the Christmas truce of 1914, a moment of humanity amidst the horror of war. It has been sung at farewell gatherings, graduations, and the closing of significant events, embodying the bittersweet nature of endings that are also beginnings.
In modern times, “Auld Lang Syne” continues to evolve. It’s not just for New Year’s anymore; it’s become a symbol of transition in any context, from the closing of businesses to the end of political terms. Yet, it retains its core: a celebration of connection, a tribute to the human experience of time passing and the hope for what’s to come.
On this New Year’s Eve, as we stand on the cusp of a new year, “Auld Lang Syne” will once again be played and sung, its echoes reminding us of our shared humanity. It’s more than a song; it’s a ritual, a moment where we pause, reflect, and then step forward together. In its melody, we find not just nostalgia but a promise that no matter how the years change, some melodies, some memories, will always bind us, singing us into the future. ■
EXTERNAL LINKS:
- Choral Scholars of University College Dublin: ucdchoralscholars.ie
Read more by Mark Gresham.
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