Well here it is, written in Scottish by the great bard himself Robbie Burns. I thought I had remembered correctly, but sometimes I forget things I learned at school, its been a while now. As I come from Greenock though, its kind of mandatory to learn a little Burns and it seems to have stuck.
Auld lang syne, directly translated means 'old long time' - or a more accurate translation, in most circumstances is 'for old times sake', but even thats not quite spot on, as you can tell from the context.
-ewan (ewanm@landyacht.csd.sgi.com)
Auld Lang Syne - by Robert Burns
Should auld acquaintance 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.
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
For auld, etc.
We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou'd the gowans fine;
But we've wander'd mony a weary fitt,
Sin' auld lang syne.
For auld, etc.,
We twa hae paidl'd in the burn,
Frae morning sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin' auld lang syne.
For auld, etc.
And theres a hand my trusty fiere!
And gies a hand o' thine!
And we'll tak a right gude-willie waught,
For auld lang syne.
For auld, etc.