And it will be.
For months now we have been occasionally graced by friends and family mostly on Facebook reminding us that 12/31/23 is actually 123123.
So there you go.
“Should old acquaintance be forgot?”
WE will happily forget these memes.
As 123123 ends at 11:59pm, we will prepare ourselves to sing the famed Auld Lang Syne, despite not having a clue what it means.
“Auld Lang Syne” originated as a poem written by Robert Burns, the national poet of Scotland. He wrote it in 1788, however, it wasn’t printed until after he died in 1796. “Auld Lang Syne” translates to “old long since” but the less literal meaning behind the phrase is “days gone by.” The lyrics tell the story of old friends reminiscing on their previous adventures and toasting to them with a drink.
The popularity of the song dates back about 100 years .. In 1929, Lombardo and his band played “Auld Lang Syne” as transitional music while performing at New York City’s Roosevelt Hotel during a New Year’s Eve broadcast. It was played just after midnight, and heard over radio and television airwaves. The rest became history.
There is a Reddit thread of people asking if people who sing Auld Lang Syne really understand what they are even saying. And most people can only get through the first set of lyrics anyway despite the song lingering on for a little too long.
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 jo,
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.
Chorus
We twa hae run about the braes
And pu’d the gowans fine;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary foot
Sin auld lang syne.
Chorus
We twa hae paidl’d i’ the burn,
Frae mornin’ sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
Sin auld lang syne.
Chorus
And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere!
And gie’s a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll tak a right guid willy waught,
For auld lang syne.
Chorus
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And long, long ago.
Chorus
And for long, long ago, my dear
For long, long ago,
We’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
For long, long ago
And surely youll buy your pint-jug!
And surely I’ll buy mine!
And we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
For long, long ago.
Chorus
We two have run about the hills
And pulled the daisies fine;
But we’ve wandered manys the weary foot
Since long, long ago.
Chorus
We two have paddled in the stream,
From morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared
Since long, long ago.
Chorus
And there’s a hand, my trusty friend!
And give us a hand of yours!
And we’ll take a deep draught of good-will
For long, long ago.
x x x
So with that series of verses, I vote we add in a new one. Create something of modern flare that we can actually understand. Maybe throw in a bussin or a GYOT for the kids.
Either way, the tune is still fine .. it is melancholy and brings about a mixture of sadness and joy. But the words just don’t mean anything now.
Out with the old.
In with the new.
By the way, did you know that 12/31/24 will be 123124?
