AULD LANG SYNE
R. W. Bro. Paterson, the founder of Victoria's Rhetoric Lodge of
Communication #831, is a noted authority on Robert Burns. He was born in
MAUCHLINE, AYRSHME, where Auld Lang Syne had its genesis.
This article appeared in the Autumn, 1995 issue of the VICTORIAN FREEMASON
and is reprinted as a Short Talk Bulletin with their permission.
AULD LANG SYNE
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-stoup And surely I'll be mine; And we'll tak' a
cup of kindness yet, For auld lang syne. For auld, etc.
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. For auld, etc.
We twa hae paidl'd in the burn Frae morning sun till dine; But seas between
us braid hae roared', Sin' auld lang syne, For auld, etc.
And there's a hand, my trusty frier! And gie's a hand o'thine! And we'll tak'
a right guide-willie waught, For auld lang syne. For auld, etc.
Glossary aboot about braes hillsides braid broad burn stream fit foot fner
fnend gie's give me gowans red berries gude good ha'e (hay) have mony (moany)
many paidl'd paddled pint-stoup tankard pou'd pulled sin' since
The following verses are a translation of Auld Lang Syne into modern English:
The Days of Yore
Should we forget our former friends By whom we set great store? Should we
forget the friends we've met And the brave days of yore?
The days of yore. My dear The days of yore, We'll tilt the jug and drain the
mug to the brave days of yore.
I fancy you could sink a pint And I'll take rather more And we'll both get
tight with all our might For the brave days of yore.
We two have wandered on the hills And daisies pulled galore But we've tired
our feet on many a street Since the brave days of yore.
We two have paddled in the brook From noon to half-past four But seas have
lain betwixt us twain Since the brave days of yore.
So let us grasp each other's hand And, as I said before Our hearts we'll
cheer with honest beer For the brave days of yore.
THE STORY OF AULD LANG SYNE
Undoubtedly, millions of people throughout the world will sing Auld Lang Syne
to see out 1995. Few will know all the words and fewer still what they mean.
They are attributed to Robert Burns who apparently picked up the tune and
some of the words from an old man singing in the dialect of southwest Scotland.
Auld Lang Syne has become the international song of departure, and is sung by
more people than any other.
The possibility is that Bums only wrote two of the five verses. But, as he
did with numerous other Scottish songs, he modified them and, in some cases,
purified them.
It seems likely that the song was first sung either in Poosie Nancy's Tavem
in Mauchline, or the Bachelors Club in Tarbolton located a few miles away.
The song was initially centred on two young men who drifted apart after their
early schooling, and who, after re-uniting, reminisced about their earlier times
together, the happy experiences they had together and the kindly folk they met.
When Burns became a Freemason at the age of 23 he quickly absorbed the superb
symbolism of the Craft.
Conviviality was, for Burns, one of the most important virtues. For him, Auld
Lang Syne is a concrete expression of his love of mankind and his ideal of
International Brotherhood.
The Masonic routine is to form a circle in which everyone is equidistant from
the centre, demonstrating they are all equal. In this regard, the practice
adopted in some lodges by placing the masters or other distinguished brethren in
the centre defeats the purpose of the ceremony associated with the song.
At the beginning of the song the brethren stand with hands by their sides,
symbolizing they are relative strangers.
The early verses should be sung (or hummed) very softly as brethren reflect
both on cherished memories of earlier times together and on those brethren who
have since passed to the Grand Lodge Above.
When they come to the last verse, "And there's a hand, my trusty frier
(friend)...", each brother then extends his right hand of fellowship to the
brother on his left, then the left hand to the brother on his right.
This symbolizes two things: firstly, that they are crossing their hearts;
secondly, that they automatically form a smaller and more intimate circle of
friendship. Now they have an unbroken chain of brethren who are close friends.
The tempo should then rise and, to the tapping of feet, all enthusiastically
sing the final chorus.
At non-Masonic functions the foregoing routine should be followed as far as
is practicable. If necessary, small circles can be formed around tables.
At Scottish functions they usually wind up by singing "O we're no' awa' tae
bide awa'," form a "snake" and move round the hall in increasingly smaller
circles. Then the leader reverses the movement and all participants revert to a
large circle.
Bro. Robert Burns
Prophet of International Brotherhood
Robert Bums, poet, song writer, Freemason and patriot died in poverty of
endocarditis in Dumfries, Scotland at the age of 37 on 21 July 1796. Some 12,000
people from all walks of life attended his funeral.
Almost two hundred years later, his death is mourned by thousands of devotees
throughout the world, who honour him, not only for his outstanding cultural
talents, but as a doyen of democracy and a prophet of international brotherhood.
Burns' timeless verses and songs of tenderness, wit and beauty have been
translated into thirty-seven languages, while his Scottish birthplace in
Alloway, near Ayr, has become a "Mecca," visited by over 250,000 people each
year.
So universally accepted has "Auld Lang Syne" become as a song of parting,
that a major Japanese department store in Tokyo now plays it over its public
address system as a diplomatic way of advising shoppers to conclude their
purchases and depart the premises. A further example of the song's universality
can be found in Lodge Norad (Nation) in The Czech Republic, which I had the
pleasure of visiting in 1992. Re-established in 1990 after the fall of
Communism, Norad operates under the Scottish Constitution and closes its
fortnightly meetings with "Auld Lang Syne," sung in Czech! The lodge meets in
what was once the cellar of the Convent of St. Agnes of Bohemia, built by French
stonemasons in 1234.
Robert Burns was initiated on 4 July 1781 in St. David's Lodge (now No. 133
Scottish Constitution), Tarbolton, after paying an entry fee of twelve shillings
and six pence. As to his three degree ceremonies, there has been some
disagreement where these took place. The consensus is that they were held in a
local public house (also used by the Bachelors Club), run by John Richards, a
steward of the Lodge.
His wit, high intelligence, zeal and consummate oratory, made Bums an
admirable choice for promotion and, on 27 June 1784, he was elected Depute
Master (the local Squire being the nominal Master).
"Oft, honoured with supreme command, Presided o'er the sons of light."
With his warm and abiding love for the whole brotherhood of mankind, Burns
found in Freemasonry a splendid vehicle for the development of his philosophy.
In many ways the eighteenth century was strangely adapted to enable the roots
of Freemasonry to be nurtured and developed. The need to meet in fraternal
fellowship was met by the foundation of lodges.
It is well known that Bums was about to depart for Jamaica just before his
poems were published on 31 July 1786 (the famous "Kilmamock Edition"). It is
less well known that he came perilously close to joining the stream of Scottish
martyrs being deported as political prisoners to Australia.
Bums lived in troublesome times, typified by the American Declaration of
Independence in 1776 the French Revolution in 1792 and the fervent "Reform
Movement" in Britain striving to correct an iniquitous electoral system.
As might be expected, giving expression to calls for liberty, equality and
fraternity met with stem opposition from the deeply entrenched "establishment"
classes, with their vested interest in property, politics and religion.
What is the secret of the everlasting popularity of this remarkable man of
humble birth, who had only three years of formal schooling? Why is he remembered
when the two monarchs and eleven prime ministers who dominated the scene during
his short life have been virtually forgotten? Why is it that others of his ilk
in the literary world are respected, but Burns is loved? The answer is that he
wrote from the heart and was the voice of the common man and woman. He was their
advocate, publicist, philosopher and friend.
Burns had not only the vision of a better world, but the capacity to
articulate that message. He was a revolutionary reformer, a vigorous and
tireless opponent of oppression, privilege, hypocrisy and racism.
"Then let us pray that come it may As come it will for a' that That sense and
worth, o'er a' the earth, May bear the gree, and a' that! (Have the superiority)
For a' that, and a' that, It's coming yet for a' that,
That man to man, the warld o'er, Shall brothers be for a' that!"
Nancy McDonald encapsulated the Bumsian philosophy in three verses. She wrote
of Scotland, but the sentiments which she expressed apply equally to other
countries having an affinity with Bums.
Oh Rabbie Burns we need ye noo (now)
When shades of discord dim each broo (brow)
And o'er this tired bewildered world, the flags of hatred are unfurled.
We crave your wisdom and your pen, to cleanse the pride-soiled hearts of men
And gae o'er the nation back its proof of steadfastness and lasting truth.
In every land, in every tongue, Your name is loved, your songs are sung. You
raised the common things of earth, to gems of priceless grace and worth.
You traced the Great Almighty plan of love and brotherhood of man.
And jaundiced now though things may be, they canna dim your prophecy.
Oh Rabbie, gifted poet, seer, to whom your native land was dear.
Hard times you knew and failing health, prevented you from acquiring wealth.
But never did you turn away from works that still enthrall today.
And now the soul of Scotland turns, to bow to you, immortal Bums.
Robert Bums is not only for Scotland, but for all the world; he was one of
that small band who wrote for all time and for all people.
Bums left to the world teachings which must be regarded as subtle
religion--the teaching of brotherhood, honesty, pride, and independence of love
and friendship. He voiced the spirit of equality and was unswerving in his
devotion to liberty.
No wonder that on the anniversary of his birthday, 25 January, more than half
a million people assemble at Burns Suppers under the banners of the Union Jack,
the Stars and Stripes, the Maple Leaf, and a plethora of others, to pay tribute
to "The Immortal Memory of Robert Burns."
If only political parties, commercial organizations and individuals would
adopt his credo:
"Whatever mitigates the woes, or increases the happiness of others, this is
my criterion of goodness, and whatever injures society at large, or any
individual in it, this is my measure of iniquity!"
Further information
For brethren desirous of further pursuing the fascinating story of Robert
Burns and his works, it is recommended they contact The Robert Burns Collection,
Department of Language and Literature, Mitchell Library, North Street, Glasgow,
GE 7DN, Scotland. It houses the finest collection of Burns material in the
world.
For a condensed version of Burnsianism, one of the best is "Brithers--A
Minute a Day with Burns" by Peter Egglemont. First published by J. Avery & Co.
Ltd., Aberdeen, Scotland in May 1933.
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