Happy (much too early) New Year!

I am preparing a lesson plan for this week, using the 'Friends' TV show. It is hugely popular over here, used as a tool for English students to listen and comprehend "authentic" American English. I chose a holiday episode (season 6, episode 10 - "The Routine") to teach my students about some holiday traditions we have in the states. I plan to explain New Years traditions, the ball drop, and "Auld Lang Syne". While researching Auld Lang Syne, I learned quite a bit about the most popular song that no one really knows. This version on YouTube caught my interest and I loved the original Scottish rendition. Happy New Year friends, wish I could be there celebrating it with you all.



The song is sung at the stroke of midnight in almost every English-speaking country in the world to bring in the new year. Written by Robert Burns in the 1700's (some claim only partially written by him), it was first published in 1796 after Burns' death. Early variations of the song were sung prior to 1700 and inspired Burns to produce the modern rendition. An old Scotish tune, "Auld Lang Syne" literally means "old long ago," or simply, "the good old days."


TRADITIONAL LYRICS

Should old acquaintances be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?

Chorus

For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld Lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

Verse Two

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 sine

Chorus (repeat)

For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld Lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

-----

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

(Should old acquaintances be forgotten)
(and never remembered)
(Should old acquaintance be forgotten)
(For old long ago)

Chorus

(For old long ago, my dear)
( For old long ago)
(We will take a cup of kindness yet)
(For old long ago)

(And there is a hand my trust friend)
(And give me a hand of yours)
(And we will take of a good drink/toast)
(For old long ago)

(For old long ago, my dear)
( For old long ago)
(We will take a cup of kindness yet)
(For old long ago)