Anonymous, Auld Lang Syne

I realized a little late—but not too late—that this performance of Auld Lang Syne was available to mark the New Year. Tradition dictates its singing at the stroke of midnight as a way of bidding farewell to the old year. We follow that tradition in our household, along with many others. Traditions are an essential part of any culture, and the fact that something has endured for many years provides a good argument for not discarding it capriciously.

The poem Auld Lang Syne was written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to a traditional Scottish tune. The title, roughly translated as “for the sake of old times,” appeared in numerous writings that predate Burns’ poem.

But I’m posting this performance not just because it’s traditional, but because it’s very well done. We’ve all heard the song sung poorly and perhaps stumbled over the text ourselves. And that’s not all bad, keeping in mind G.K Chesterton’s admonition: “Anything worth doing is worth doing badly.” But our goal in this series is to present things that are done well. If you’re looking for a New Year’s resolution (something that traditionally does not survive January), you might consider resolving to add some artistic beauty to your daily routine. Here’s a good start.