Auld Lang Syne

By David R. Ferguson     Auld Lang Syne is a Scottish song written by Robert Burns in 1788 and sung in the English-speaking world each year since as the New Year dawns. Burns’ lyrics were inspired heavily by an earlier work composed by James Watson in 1711. Watson’s poem, in turn, has roots in an earlier old Scottish song from Scotland’s ancient past. The Scottish words auld lang syne literally mean “old long since,” better stated as “for old time’s sake.” The words “till dine” in the fourth verse mean “dinner time.” The song begins, then, by asking poetically, "Is it best for us to forget our loved ones, those who have gone before us?" The chorus, then, answers this question by saying, “No, it’s better to remember our loved ones fondly and in memory of all the good times they gave us for old time’s sake."     It breaks our heart to lose our loved ones to death, but for those of us in Christ, we know this is really not true. They haven’t been lost at all to death, for death no longer holds sway over those who lived their lives faithfully in Christ due to His victory over the sting of death (1 Corinthians 15:57). Because of the great sacrifice He made on our behalf, we are assured that our loved ones have been called home to life eternal with their Lord. So, let’s all take a cup of kindness yet in their memory for auld lang syne, and rejoice in their blessed state they now are living!     Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? Should old acquaintance be forgot, and old lang syne? For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, We'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.     And surely you’ll buy your pint cup and surely I’ll buy mine! And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet, for auld lang syne. For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, We'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.     We two have run about the slopes, and picked the daisies fine; But we’ve wandered many a weary foot, since auld lang syne. For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, We'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.     We two have paddled in the stream, from morning sun till dine; But seas between us broad have roared since auld lang syne. For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, We'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.     And there’s a hand my trusty friend and give us a hand o’ thine! And we’ll take a right good-will of draught, for auld lang syne. For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, We'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.

- David R. Ferguson preaches for the Mentor Church of Christ in Mentor, OH.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://mentorchurchofchrist.com/ or davidferguson61@yahoo.com