Auld Lang Syne, and all that...

I would like to apologize in advance, again, but it’s still the end fringes of the holiday season and therefore the BusiEST time of the year, and I am keeping these newsletters short and sweet until I have survived fully enjoyed it.

That said, New Year's always hits me hard in the feels.  

Not the same feels as Christmas, birthday, and Easter feels, but it gets me all the same.  And, while it is the overarching implications of the marked passage of time that carry the most weight, the thing that stirs my emotions more than the date itself is the theme song that accompanies it, and the message it conveys.

As we of the human race (or at least the Gregorian calendar following people) collectively reflect on the miracle that we survived another lap around the sun - some of us without loved ones who didn’t, some of us with new life we added over the year, but all of us changed in some way by the experiences the last 12 months brought - those famous notes ring out and I get all emotional.  

Auld Lang Syne is such a beautiful song.  I have only about a day to play it each year, and when I can, I play it right to death.  I will listen to dozens of variations - violin, acapella, rock - each as beautiful as the one before, on repeat every December 31st.  The music is simple but moving, and buried in the melody is a beautiful message.  

While Auld Lang Syne comes to most minds as a fun final serenade to a year that is passing away, sung in solidarity around the world, in bars, party halls, homes, and prisons alike, it is so much more than a farewell song to a year that is breathing its failing breaths.  We are so quick to turn from those words of respect for the memories to the toasting of a new year full of potential, that we often fail to embrace the reverence and gratitude that lends power to the poetry we’re quoting.  I mean, what does “auld lang syne” even mean anyway?  It’s just the words of the song, that’s all…  “Nay!”  ‘Tis the very voice of certain tried and timeless truths that bear for all of life in all generations!  

In short, auld lang syne is literally translated as “old long since” which is often written as “days long passed/past” or “days of old” but colloquially used the same way would say “for old time’s sake.”

Anyone with an interest in it, and access to the internet, can pull in a pretty good haul of information on the history of both the musical composition and the poetic word choice that are the flesh and bones of the song “Auld Lang Syne”, and the etymological and philological evolution of the song throughout the centuries, so I won’t go into that here.  I’ll just tell you what it means to me, as it is sung today in (mostly) modern English. 

____________________________________________________________________________

“Auld Lang Syne”  by Robert Burns

“Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and never brought to mind?

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and days of auld lang syne?

Chorus

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we'll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

And surely you'll buy your pint cup,

and surely I'll buy mine!

And we'll take a cup o' kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

Chorus

We two have run about the hills,

and picked the daisies fine;

But we've wandered many a weary foot,

since auld lang syne.

Chorus

We two have paddled in the stream,

from morning sun till dine;

But seas between us broad have roared

Since days of auld lang syne.

Chorus

And there's a hand my trusty friend!

And give me a hand o' thine!

And we'll take a right good-will draught,

For days of auld lang syne.

____________________________________________________________________________

Aside from any purposes intended by the poet, this song effectively - explicitly - asks a simple but deep question, and then poses an answer that we would all likely agree with.  Implicitly, it suggests a human philosophy for growth, connection, and happiness. 

The poet opens up with “Should old acquaintances be forgotten?” and focuses the whole of the rest of the lyrics on the reminiscence of an old relationship that faded as the two friends grew up, went their own ways, and built their own lives.  The childhood days of frolicking through the fields and paddling the streams are gone, but the connection remains.  It’s a song of fond memories of times that cannot be returned to, which embodies the feeling of every man, woman, or child who has ever had to outgrow - or watch leave - something or someone they enjoyed, in order to pursue the next good thing intended for each of them.  

Granted, many parts of life are hard, and some past experiences are okay to put away and not dwell on.  But any fledgling teenager, empty nester, or survivor of a lost loved one can tell you that the good stuff can be so hard to let go of.  

Growing up, moving on, and letting go are all hard things necessary for future happiness.  

Some try to escape it, shirking responsibilities and fighting the ceaseless march of time.  Some attempt to dull the pain by disowning (and forgetting) the past.  But some, like Mr. Burns, get it right.  

Like every day we wake up to, the New Year is a bright time of opportunity and potential that also offers a chance to reflect and redirect if we need to.  Sometimes looking ahead is scary, and sometimes looking back is sad.  We can’t move forward if we’re clinging to the past, though. And we can’t stay where we are.  Time won’t stand still (at least not as long as this earth keeps spinning) and we aren’t meant to either.  So what do we do with the “old acquaintances” (familiar and comfortable places in life) when we finally get the courage to move on to new ones?

Here we meet up with Mr. Burns on his poetical path, speaking to his past:

Should I forget you?

Should I bury you deep and try not to remember?

After all, those days are long gone.

You have your cup (life) and I have mine,

But even in the parting, there is kindness still between us.

We’ve shared a great deal of fun in life,

But our paths have carried us far apart.

Let’s shake on this, trusted friend, 

That we will carry these memories forward fondly (with good-will),

“For old time’s sake.” 

Happy New Year everyone.