Auld Lang Syne

ETA: I don't know why the right side of the picture is cut off ... but I must go to bed now to be able to somewhat function and play "train-track" at 6 a.m. ;)

I was trying to figure out why people sing this song each and every New Year's Eve at the strike of 12 ... and I'm still not exactly sure, truth be told. The lyrics are complicated! I'm 31 years old, never knew the words, and I'm prepping to bore you to tears ;)

So I delve ... and find it's a Scottish poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 ... and the lyrics here. I thought I was in trouble with just the title and meaning behind it ... this is part of the chorus as presented on that site (no wonder they say English is amongst the hardest of languages to learn):

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.

(??)

On the aforementioned website, there was another interpretation attributed to the 'courtly poet' Sir Robert Ayton (1570-1638):

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never thought upon,
The flames of love extinguished,
And freely past and gone?
Is thy kind heart now grown so cold
In that loving breast of thine,
That thou canst never once reflect
On old-long-syne

It sounds so sad! All the while I've thought that song was ringing Happy New Year! It's nearly midnight on New Years Day, I've been up since early this a.m. so maybe my brain isn't functioning as it should (EGAD!), and I've misunderstood the meaning...

At any rate - to bring in the New Year, I think I've written the most lengthy post yet. All I wanted to do was log on to wish you and yours a safe and happy new year, and I've given myself a headache ;)

Thank you for making my 2008 as wonderful as it was ... I know 2009 will be amazing! Much health, happiness, and love to you all! Here's a picture of my most cheekiest of children ... Lord love a lamb ... she's gonna need it ;)