The poem’s title may be translated into English as old long since or it might be loosely. Updated: March 16, 2001į/ rabbie_burns/ burns_verse/blacklock. By far the best-known Burns composition is the traditional New Year’s Eve anthem Auld Lang Syne. The words for Auld Lang Syne come from a Robert Rabbie Burns Scottish poem written in 1788, though he claimed to have written it down from an elderly man -an old song of olden times. © 1871-2023 Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon A.F.

To which are prefixed, some observations on the character and condition of the Scottish peasantry. Text transcribed from The Works of Robert Burns, with an account of his life, and a criticism on his writings. Notes transcribed from The Complete Works of Robert Burns. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide.

Its particularly poignant now as the U.K. The second and third verses-describing the happy days of youth-are his beyond a doubt.Īnd we'll tak a right gude willie-waught, 2. Robert Burns (25 January 1759 21 July 1796), also known familiarly as Rabbie Burns, was a Scottish poet and lyricist. The Scottish town of Inverness gathers every new year to sing Robert Burns famed ode 'Auld Lang Syne' to old friends. Download a grayscale version or silhouette.īurns has described this as an old song and tune which had often thrilled through his soul and in communicating it to his friend George Thomson, he professed to have recovered it from an old mans singing and exclaimed regarding it-'Light be the turf on the breast of the Heaven-inspired poet who composed this glorious fragment!' The probability is, however, that the poet was indulging in a little mystification on the subject, and that the entire song was his own composition. Detail from an unsigned, undated oil painting owned by Ancient Light Lodge No.88 in Delta, British Columbia.

Rabbie burns auld lang syne