Auld Lang Syne

In an email from my friend Cyrus:

Hey Joe! Attached are the lyrics for the song that traditionally
gets sung tonight. Are you familiar with them? I understand
that they are by the a Scot, Robert Burns. In the first
paragraph, he asks rhetorically if old friends and times should
be forgotten. The answer, in the second paragraph, is no
way!–we’re going to drink a toast and remember those who are no
longer nearby.

AULD LANG SYNE

Words adapated from a traditional song
by Rabbie Burns (1759-96)

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 of 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 monie a weary fit ,
Sin auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl’t in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine ,
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
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 guid-willie waught ,
For auld lang syne.

Meanings

auld lang syne (times gone by)
be (pay for)
braes (hills)
braid (broad)
burn (stream)
dine (dinner time)
fiere (friend)
fit (foot)
gowans (daisies)
guid-willie waught (goodwill drink)
monie (many)
morning sun (noon)
paidl’t (paddled)
pint-stowp (pint tankard)
pou’d (pulled)
twa (two)