Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Willow's Weekly Word


Auld Lang Syne (ôld' lăng zīn', sīn') is a Scottish poem written by
Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song,
Roud # 6294. It is well known in many English speaking countries
and is often sung to celebrate the start of the new year at the stroke
of midnight on New Year's Day. The song's title may be translated
into English literally as old long since, or more idiomatically, long
long ago or days gone by. For old time's sake or to the good old
days may be modern day expressions, in common use as a toast,
that capture the spirit of "for auld lang syne".


Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old times since ?

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.

We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since 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.

And there’s a hand my trusty friend!
And give us a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll take a right good-will 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.


I raise a cup of kindness to you,
my trusty bloggy friends!
.
Love, joy and peace
for the coming New Year
to you and yours.
.
Cheers!
x

67 comments:

  1. I'll drink to that!

    Happy New Year!!

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  2. And also to you from Australia :D

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  3. Happy New Year.
    I love your home, so pretty with the snow.

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  4. Ah, the same to you!! So glad we've met here in the world of pictures and words! I send you my best wishes.

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  5. And all the best to you and yours for the upcoming new year!

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  6. I'd never actually seen the lyrics so thank you for that.
    There is an odd and haunting version of the song played on a saw, which you might like.

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  7. Thank you for your cup of kindness!

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  8. Happy New Year to those at Willow Manor. May the road be smooth, the breezes gentle,and may you continue to delight us with classy photos.

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  9. Good morning Willow,

    These words will certainly be ringing out in Bonnie Scotland tonight!

    I send you and your family all good wishes for 2009.

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  10. Good old Bobby Burns!

    Happy New Year, Willow! :)

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  11. Speaking of old songs, I saw and heard the Republican Chip Saltsman, a candidate for chairman of the Republican National Committee, who sent committee members a holiday music CD that included "Barack the Magic Negro," a parody song first aired in 2007 by talk show host Rush Limbaugh.

    No wonder the Republican Party is in a state of bewildered limbo.

    I hope 2009 will be better than 2008, 2007, and 2006. I do think our government will be inspired by our new President Obama -- at least I hope so.

    I would like to see the War in Irag end and I would like to see the killing stop everywhere.

    It is my hope that Japan will stop slaughtering whales and raping virgin forests.

    And I hope the people will lose their clubs and no longer club baby seals to death.

    What a world we have and live in. 2009 could be so much better than it will be.

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  12. Bloggy new year greetings to you and all the willow family

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  13. I posted about the song too. Great minds .... I suppose! Happy 2009 to you too bloggy friend.

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  14. Happy New Year!

    May you be blessed much happiness and many joys in 2009!

    May the world be blessed with Peace & Justice in 2009!

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  15. I can't tell you how happy that photo makes me! Great find!

    Thanks for the lesson on Auld Lang Syne as well.

    Peace

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  16. I've wondered what those songs lyrics were; you see, no one I know ever learned the real thing- just the one verse and that repeated ad infinitum! Also popular is the invent-what-you-think-of-the moment-you-think-of-it version- always a favorite. I love to look at lyrics though and wonder about why something caught on. What a mood photo, "Really, I'm so tired, I can't be bothered...could you just say the toast!" He replies, "For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne!" "Splendid, darling. Splendid." May you continue to have success in the year ahead at the Willow Manor. And may all of your readers remember what's important...at the moment it is...Happy 2009!

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  17. Very enlightening once again Willow. Hope you and W.T. have a great New Year's celebration. Don't forget to leave a drink out for old "Leatherhead". I hope we all remember "Old times past." Happy New Year! Pappy

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  18. Thanks Willow - it all makes sense now seeing the verse as written. The first lines were a question - not a directive. I always thought it strange that the song was saying things should "be forgot".
    Thanks for all you blog work - it is an inspiration
    Blessed New Year to you

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  19. I'm glad you posted all the verses..I've never heard the last ones! HNY!

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  20. Right back atcha! Have a wonderful 2009, Willow! Being of Scottish descent, auld lang syne rings true for me. Happy New Year!

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  21. the view from your kitchen winter is beautiful.

    Bonne Fete Année Willow

    The Diving Bell & the Butterfly is how I'm spending my new year's eve. Curled up right here on the sofa.

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  22. I have a little Scotch blood in my veins. Sometimes I have the urge to wear a kilt. Happy New Year to you Willow and here's to the good old times!

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  23. i don't think i've ever heard all the words to the song before. thanks for sharing and happy new year to all of you at willow manor!

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  24. A Very Happy New Year to you, Willow! So nice to have met you this year.
    Catherine

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  25. And, happy new year to you, dear willow-friend!

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  26. Happy New Year to the Lady of the Mannor!

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  27. BB, WT is an old Scot and actually does wear a kilt on holidays! ;^)

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  28. This song always sounds a little melancholy to me, as though there is some sadness in letting go of another year. It's in that spirit that we'll be opening our Memory Bags tonight at midnight. We fill up the bags during the year with our "bestest" memories. On New Year's Eve, we open the bag and read them. I suppose it's our way of honoring the past while looking forward to the future, which is what Janus, that Roman mythological god, is all about! Cheers!

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  29. Cheers!

    Happy New Year to all the Willows!

    :-Daryl

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  30. Oh, dear, oh, dear! That's a lovely rhyme to choose for the end of the year. Burns died too young (in his mid thirties, I believe) and next year sees the celebration of his birth 250 years ago (although, taking into account that British beef is still banned in the US, thou shall not have any haggis, nae :-D).

    I first came across this poem in uni when we studied Scotland. Unbeknownst to me then was the small fact that Robert Burns espoused Republican views, a charge that carried a stiff sentence in dear ol' Blighty. Another reason for me to like the Scottish bard's oeuvre. Here in GB, there's a programme every 31st Dec called 'Jools Holland's Hootenanny' and at the stroke of 12the Scottish Guards Band play 'Auld Lang Syne'.

    Thank you very much indeed for posting this lovely poem. And thanks for that cabbage soup whose image I saw when I entered your blog. That's the vegetable I used to hate when I was little and which I learnt to love as a grown-up :-).

    Happy New Year to you and your lovely family, willow! May 2009 bring you health and happiness.

    Greetings from London.

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  31. We have some friends joining us tonight to see in the New Year. One of them is Scottish and from the same area as Robert Burns - me thinks he must recite this in his broadest accent for the rest of us to revel in the joy of it as it was written.

    Happy New Year to you and WT.

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  32. Hey! I don't know if it is the right way to do it, but can you add me in your link list? I'll add you in mine, no harm in networking I figured!
    Ignore this comment if you are not intrested!
    Happy New Year!

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  33. Willow,

    Thank you for the sentiment.

    Wishing you and yours a healthy, happy new year.

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  34. Bean soups on...gonna blast into the New Year with a bang!!!

    Cheers friend!

    sharon

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  35. Good old Robby Burns! Thanks for tracking down & sharing all of the verses.
    Happy New Year!

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  36. Happy New Years to YOU and YOURS!!!

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  37. There's a lovely statue of Robert Burns, tucked away in a grassy inlet in Golden Gate Park, which I've walked past many times and only just recently realized was him. Now I will be sure to pay my respects again.

    And even more than the poem, how I love that photo! It's perfect (and I want a copy)! Happy New Year, willow!

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  38. Yes, a time for reflection on the past-but not a nostalgia bath
    just a cleansing and looking with hope for the future
    Have a splendid 2009

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  39. And a cup of kindness to you too, Willow. Am so glad I found you and your delightful blog. Cheers to many more interesting and thought provoking posts in 2009

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  40. I'd be happy to take a right good-will draught with you! Thanks for the cup of kindness and thanks for sharing your wonderful,interesting blog! Happy New Years to you and yours....

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  41. Happy New Year to you, dear Willow,and yours. Yesterday's cabbage soup looks just delish!

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  42. I am raising my cup of kindness to you, too! You are on my list of one of the most beautiful places, if not "the" most beautiful, that I visit daily.
    To auld lang syne, my friend.

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  43. I hope the sounds of laughter ring loud at the manor tonight!

    We will raise a cup to you and yours, dear Willow.
    I will put on my tweed cap, dance a jig and shake me Shillelagh!

    :-)

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  44. And a very Happy New Year to you dear Willow!

    I always think of Jimmy Stewart singing this at the end of "It's A Wonderful Life..."

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  45. Willow, in England we would deck the village hall with holly for a night of Scottish dancing. Before midnight my mother in law passed out shortbread and we poured champagne. At the stroke of midnight everyone crossed arms and held hands to sing this song. Thanks for bringing it back. Nice to have "met" you this year.

    I hear my husband cracking the champagne now.

    Happy New Year!

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  46. Happy New Year ...May you have a joyous celebration at Willow Manor! Warm fire, good food and drink, music and loving family and friends!

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  47. Dear Willow, Happy New Year from the Sunny South... raising a glass of Martinelli's Sparkling Apple Cider... Enjoy!

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  48. A cup of kindness to you too Willow.
    Happy New Year!

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  49. Happy New Year! dear Willow, many blessings in 2009. I raise my cup for Auld Lang Syne.

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  50. Loved this version of the song! Happy New Year!

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  51. How fitting this is with my post this evening on Hogmanay.

    Happy New Year, Willow. Thanks for your efforts on putting together a truly great blog with a multitude of enjoyable topics.

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  52. Happy, happy new year, dear Willow. I'm looking forward to sharing a new year with you at Willow Manner. ~ Relyn

    Where or where did you find that lovely picture?

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  53. Happy New Year, Willow! Thank you for your wonderful blog, and looking forward to more of your inspiring and uplifting posts in 2009.

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  54. Dear Willow,
    I am awfully grateful to you for adding me to your link list. I am a great fan of your blog. I hope you will soon be on a domain of your own. Have a great year ahead...good wishes of health and fortune.

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  55. Happy New Year, and thank you for your blog - always interesting, at times touching - a good place to stop and read and think.

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  56. Ok! let's go get some kindness and just get blitzed together- Blogland blitiz! Cheers to you, dearest!

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  57. 686 followers?! Man, that's crazy! You could start something with that many people! LOL. Way to go Willow. Your words spread across space, touching people, leaving it's impression, tucking them peacefully into your Willow Manor.

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  58. Thanks for that info Willow. I do hope 2009 is a Great year for all at Willow Manor and that we can all continue to enjoy your enchanting blog.
    xx

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  59. A Happy New Year to you and yours Willow.

    I never really understood the lines....'should auld acquaintance be forget and never brought to mind'.

    I don't wish to forget most of my auld acquaintancies and bring them to mind frequently.

    Just New Years night ponderings with a glass of port...

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  60. Happy New Year! We have a statue of Robbie Burns in our big garden here in Sydney next to the Art Gallery of NSW. Can't wait to go wish him a Happy New Year now! :)

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  61. Happy new year to you too and happy blogging in 2009.

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Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)