Robert Burns (1759-1796)

Auld Lang Syne (written in 1788, first published in 1796)

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,        Old
  And never brought to min'?                 Brought to mind
Should auld aqcuaintance be forgot,
  And days o' lang syne?                     Of long ago (literally: old long gone)

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

We twa hae run about the braes,            We two have run about the slopes
  And pu'd the gowans fine,                  And pulled the daisies fine
But we've wandered mony a weary foot,      Many
  Sin' auld lang syne.                       Since long ago

We twa hae paidled i' the burn,            We two have paddled in the stream
  From morning sun till dine,                Until noon (dinner)
But seas between us braid hae roared       Broad have roared
  Sin' auld lang syne

And there's a hand, my trusty fiere,       Friend
  And gie's a hand o' thine;                 Give us a hand of thine
And we'll tak a right gude-willie waught,  A very hearty drink
  For auld lang syne

And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp,       You'll pay for your pint cup
  And surely I'll be mine;
And we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
  For auld lang syne. 

Burns once declared the following version to be the best.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,        
  And never brought to mind?                
Should auld aqcuaintance be forgot,
  And days o' lang syne?                   

For auld lang syne, my jo,                   Sweetheart
  For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
  For auld lang syne.

And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp      
  And surely I'll be mine,
And we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
  For auld lang syne. 

We twa hae run about the braes,           
  And pou'd the gowans fine;            
But we've wander'd mony a weary fit,         Many a weary foot
  Sin' auld lang syne.                

We twa hae paidl'd i' the burn          
  Frae morning sun till dine;                From morning sun until noon (dinner)
But seas between us braid hae roar'd         Broad have roared
  Sin' auld lang syne

And there's a hand, my trusty fiere,  
  And gie's a hand o' thine;           
And we'll tak a right gude-willie waught,    Drink of good will 
  For auld lang syne