It was a common practice in the 18th century to write new words to an established melody, and that is the case here. Robert Burns wrote his words, published in Johnson's Scots Musical Museum in 1796/97, to an old tune, to which Allan Ramsay had written his own words around 1720. Burns' publisher, a Mr. Thomson in Edinburgh, had a habit of disregarding the instructions given him, and he published Burns' new words with a different tune than Burns intended. The melody Mr. Thomson selected was known as, "I Fee'd a Lad at Martinmas," otherwise known as, "The Miller's Wedding," that melody being what we now hear on New Year's Eve. We have elected to ignore Mr. Thomson's recommendation and use the original tune Burns wanted. You will hear similarities to the familiar modern version, and we hope you hear the subtle differences that make it unique.

Lyrics

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne*! (old memories, days gone by)

Chorus: For auld lang syne, my jo*, (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*! (three imperial pints)
And surely I'll be mine!
And we'll tak a cup o'kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

We twa hae* run aboot the braes, (two have)
And pou'd the gowans* fine; (pulled the daisys)
But we've wander'd mony a weary fit,
Sin' auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl'd* in the burn* (paddled) (stream)
Frae* morning sun till dine; (from)
But seas between us braid hae* roar'd (broad have)
Sin'* auld lang syne. (since)