new year's eve
Fireworks light up the London skyline and Big Ben just after midnight on Jan. 1, 2015 in London, England. Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

The ringing in of each new year isn’t complete without “Auld Lang Syne” playing in the background. But what doe the classic song mean and why do we always listen to it before welcoming in Jan. 1? Here is what we know in 2019!

The song has a long history. The story goes that in 1788, poet Robert Burns sent the song lyrics to Scots Musical Museum. Burns wrote that the song was ancient and that he was the first to record its words on paper, according to Scotland.org, part of Scotland is Now campaign’s 2017 report. The site reports the song title translates to “For Old Times’ Sake,” but others have a different translation.

According to ABC News, the title means "times gone by" and “is about remembering friends from the past and not letting them be forgotten.”

Auld Lang Syne
The lyrics of "Auld Lang Syne" from Scottish poet Robert Burns are printed on a wall as part of an exhibition at the Morgan Library & Museum in New York on Dec. 9, 2011. "Auld Lang Syne" is the song that at the stroke of midnight at the New Year, millions of people around the globe belt out, making it the most widely recognized song on the planet after “Happy Birthday”. EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images

The Scottish song is traditionally sung just before midnight on New Year’s Eve. According to Scotland.org, “Everyone stands in a circle holding hands, then at the beginning of the final verse ('And there's a hand my trusty friend') they cross their arms across their bodies so that their left hand is holding the hand of the person on their right, and their right hand holds that of the person on their left. When the song ends, everyone rushes to the middle, still holding hands, and probably giggling.”

Though the song is synonymous with New Year’s, it was not intended to be a holiday melody. ABC reports it was musician Guy Lombardo who popularized the song in 1929 when his band used it during two radio performances in New York. Coincidentally, the song was played just before midnight on New Year’s Eve.

Here are the complete lyrics if you want to sing along this year:

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 jo,
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.

Chorus

We twa hae run about the braes
And pu'd the gowans fine;
But we've wander'd mony a weary foot
Sin auld lang syne.

Chorus

We twa hae paidl'd i' the burn,
Frae mornin' sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin auld lang syne.

Chorus

And there's a hand, my trusty fiere!
And gie's a hand o' thine!
And we'll tak a right guid willy waught,
For auld lang syne.

Chorus

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And long, long ago.

Chorus

And for long, long ago, my dear
For long, long ago,
We'll take a cup of kindness yet,
For long, long ago

And surely youll buy your pint-jug!
And surely I'll buy mine!
And we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
For long, long ago.

Chorus

We two have run about the hills
And pulled the daisies fine;
But we've wandered manys the weary foot
Since long, long ago.

Chorus

We two have paddled in the stream,
From morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared
Since long, long ago.

Chorus

And there's a hand, my trusty friend!
And give us a hand of yours!
And we'll take a deep draught of good-will
For long, long ago.

Chorus

Happy New Year!

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