Holiday musical playlists cover the usual suspects "White Christmas," "Silent Night," etc., but one song is invariable omitted until the end of the year: "Auld Lang Syne." There aren't, though, many melodies as deeply embedded into the psyche as this simple reflection of passing time.
Robert Burns, considered Scotland's great bard, wrote the words as well as the melody, though the latter is almost certainly based on a traditional folk song. Most people who sing the song briefly wonder, 'What the heck is an auld lang syne?' Translated literally it is 'old long since,' though its meaning is 'days gone by.'
Guy Lombardo popularized singing the song to welcome in the New Year, but it was already a custom in many places. Given how many versions of popular Christmas songs are recorded, you may be surprised how relatively few of "Auld Lang Syne" there are. The range, however, is wide: -- The Stylistics, Jimi Hendrix, and James Taylor have all recorded versions.
A little known version that just may be our favorite (available on iTunes): James Taylor's sister, Kate, includes it on her 2002 album called "Beautiful Road;" brother sings backup for sister.
written on Friday Dec 21, 2007
a cup of kindness.
