The Story Behind the Song

18/12/2007

At the end of the night on New Year’s Eve, when the clock strikes midnight, most merry makers begin to hum a song. Party guests carry on trying to sing the words but truth is, not many know the verses. The popular New Year’s Eve song is Auld Lang Syne which originates from Scotland.
Auld Lang Syne translates as “old long since.”

The words were first published by poet Robert Burns in the 1796 edition of the book, Scots Musical Museum. Burns put the words on paper after hearing them sung by a man from his homeland, the Ayrshire area of Scotland.

Even though Burns published the words of Auld Lang Syne, its popularity is due to another man: Guy Lombardo. He first heard the song sung by Scottish immigrants in London, Ontario.

Lombardo and his brothers later formed a dance band, Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians and sang Auld Lang Syne. Lombardo played on New Year’s Eve in New York City at the Roosevelt Hotel. On that night in 1929 the band played Auld Lang Syne and the tradition was born.

The song was later played on the radio and on television during New Year’s Eve programmes.