Skip to content
Storgy

The Annotated Edition

Auld Lang Syne by Robert Burns

Summary, meaning, line-by-line analysis & FAQ.

Two old friends lift their cups in unison, reminiscing about the joyful times of their youth—the hills they raced across, the streams they jumped into, and the years that have drawn them apart.

Poet
Robert Burns
Year
1788
Form
song
The PoemFull text

Auld Lang Syne

Robert Burns, 1788

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, &c. We twa hae run about the braes, And pou’d the gowans fine; But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit, Sin’ auld lang syne. For auld, &c. 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, &c. And there’s a hand, my trusty fere! And gie’s a hand o’ thine! And we’ll tak a right gude-willie waught, For auld lang syne. For auld, &c.

Public domain

Sourced from Project Gutenberg

§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

Two old friends lift their cups in unison, reminiscing about the joyful times of their youth—the hills they raced across, the streams they jumped into, and the years that have drawn them apart. The song poses a straightforward question: should we truly forget those who influenced us and the moments that defined us? Burns responds with a resolute no, accompanied by a toast.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

  1. Should auld acquaintance be forgot, / And never brought to mind?

    Editor's note

    Burns starts with a rhetorical question in Scots dialect—*auld acquaintance* refers to old friends, while *auld lang syne* translates to 'old long since,' meaning times that have passed. He’s not implying we *should* forget; he’s making it clear that we shouldn’t. This question is more of a challenge than a sign of uncertainty.

  2. For auld lang syne, my dear, / For auld lang syne.

    Editor's note

    The chorus serves as the emotional heart of the song. By repeating the phrase *auld lang syne*, it emphasizes that the past — not just the people we remember — deserves recognition. The term *dear* adds a personal touch, as if the speaker is addressing someone special directly.

  3. And surely ye'll be your pint stowp! / And surely I'll be mine!

    Editor's note

    A *pint stowp* is a drinking vessel — each friend will cover their own round. This stanza anchors the song in a tangible moment: two people sitting at a table, treating each other to drinks. It's a simple, heartfelt gesture that reflects years of friendship.

  4. We twa hae run about the braes, / And pou'd the gowans fine;

    Editor's note

    *Braes* are hillsides, *gowans* are daisies, and *twa* means two. Burns captures the essence of childhood — running freely on the hills and picking wildflowers. The word *fine* radiates nostalgia. These weren't grand adventures; they were simple days that now feel cherished in memory.

  5. We twa hae paidl'd in the burn, / Frae morning sun till dine;

    Editor's note

    *Paidl'd* means paddled, *burn* refers to a stream, and *dine* signifies dinnertime. The friends spent entire days wading in the water, completely carefree. Then the stanza takes a dramatic turn: *seas between us braid hae roar'd* — wide seas have roared between us since that time. Distance and time have pulled them apart, creating a stark contrast with those carefree days.

  6. And there's a hand, my trusty fere! / And gie's a hand o' thine!

    Editor's note

    *Fere* translates to companion or friend, while *gie's* means give us. This marks the emotional peak: the two friends extend their hands and clasp them together. A *gude-willie waught* refers to a hearty drink shared in goodwill. After all the reminiscing, the song concludes with action — a handshake, a toast, and a reaffirmation of their bond.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

Warm and bittersweet. Burns maintains a celebratory mood on the surface — with drinking, toasting, and laughter — but beneath it all lies a quiet longing for time lost. The Scots dialect adds an earthy, genuine touch, like a song sung by real people in a local pub instead of something created for a stage. By the final stanza, the warmth triumphs over the sadness, leaving a tone that feels close to gratitude.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

The cup of kindness
The shared drink serves as the poem's main symbol. It represents friendship—something you give to someone else and something you get back in return. Lifting a cup is a physical gesture that brings an abstract feeling to life, making it tangible and visible.
The braes and the burn (hills and stream)
These Scottish landscapes evoke childhood and innocence. Running on hillsides and splashing in streams capture a sense of pure freedom, a time before adulthood, distance, and responsibilities set in. They’re detailed enough to feel authentic, yet relatable enough for anyone to connect their own memories to them.
The seas between us
Wide, roaring seas represent separation — not just in terms of physical distance, but also the gap that time and circumstance create between people who were once close. The sea doesn't hold any ill will; it simply stands in the way. That’s what makes it such a genuine metaphor for how friendships can drift apart.
The clasped hands
In the final stanza, the two friends reach out and grasp each other's hands. The handshake represents their reunion and commitment—a promise that, despite everything the seas have thrown their way, their bond remains strong. It answers the poem's opening question.
Auld lang syne (old long since)
The phrase symbolizes the entire burden of shared history. It doesn’t point to a single memory but encompasses the whole of their past — every moment that shaped the relationship between the two people.

§06Form & structure

Form & structure

Form
song

§07Historical context

Historical context

Robert Burns published "Auld Lang Syne" in 1788, sending it to the Scots Musical Museum with a note stating he had taken it from an old man's singing. However, scholars generally believe Burns wrote most of it himself, using an older fragment as inspiration. He was passionate about preserving and reviving Scottish folk culture at a time when Scottish identity faced challenges after the Acts of Union with England. The song fits perfectly into that effort: it's crafted in Scots dialect, paired with a traditional-sounding melody, and reflects the rhythms of everyday working life. Burns passed away in 1796 at the young age of 37, but the song has enjoyed remarkable longevity. By the 19th century, it had become the go-to song for New Year's Eve celebrations across the English-speaking world, a custom carried around the globe by Scottish emigrants. Most people who sing it today are familiar only with the first verse and chorus, while the richer, more personal stanzas about hillsides and streams have largely been forgotten.

§08FAQ

Questions readers ask

It's Scots for "old long since," which refers to times long past or the old days. This phrase conveys the notion of reflecting on all that has happened before, rather than focusing on a single memory.

More by Robert Burns

Browse all Robert Burns poems →

Themes in this poem

Poems about friendshipPoems about homePoems about memoryPoems about time