How did an old Scottish folk tune, a famous poet and a 1920s bandleader turn “Auld Lang Syne” into New Year’s most popular song?
At this point, we’re all pretty familiar with a very singular New Year’s tradition. The bright, glittery ball in Times Square drops, everyone cheers, and then we all begin to sing along to “Auld Lang Syne”. Well, at least we try. Between the Scots dialect in the lyrics and that extra drink you may have had, it’s a bit of a toss-up.
But what’s the deal with the song? How did the tune become such an entrenched part of New Year festivities?
As far as historians can tell, “Auld Lang Syne” is actually a very old Scottish folk song. Famous Scottish poet Robert Burns didn’t exactly write it, as less careful researchers may tell you. Burns himself said, “I took it down from an old man”.
Burns, who lived during the 18th century, was well known as a “Ploughman Poet”. He traveled the countryside and engaged with the traditions of rural Scottish life. He then turned them into published works that were distributed to a wider audience.
Still, by writing it down and publishing the lyrics in 1788, Burns is responsible for some of the longevity of “Auld Lang Syne”. Though Burns is by no means the original author, he did change some words and structures to revitalize it.
Today’s version
The song we know today is really the result of a meeting between an old, old tune and Burns’ own artistic additions. Burns himself was so proud of this piece of Scottish culture that he sent it to the Scots Musical Museum that same year.
By the way, the tune most people use today was a substitution suggested by music publisher George Thompson. The poet had thought the original music was pretty bad. Thompson, a contemporary of Burns, therefore substituted another traditional Scottish tune. The older music can be heard in, of all things, the 2008 Sex and the City movie.
How did it become a sentimental favorite amongst buzzed New Year’s crowds today? After all, it’s hard to see a straight line between “Scottish folk tune” to “something to mumble along to until we hit the chorus”.
That’s thanks to 1920’s bandleader Guy Lombardo. During a 1929 New Year’s Eve broadcast, Lombardo’s band was playing at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City. In need of a transitional song, Lombardo chose “Auld Lang Syne”. It was right after midnight. Listeners quickly made the association between the song and the first moments of a new year.
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The song has since become a favorite as we move into the year ahead. We see it in the climactic kissing scene of When Harry Met Sally. You also hear it right before the disaster that gets The Poseidon Adventure going. Meanwhile, if you’re in a Japanese shop near closing time, you may hear it as a polite reminder to leave.
If you’re especially worried about getting the lyrics right, study up here.
However, there’s plenty of joy and frenzy in greeting a new year, so don’t worry quite so much about the specifics.