I can't recall hearing anyone (here in the US) sing "for the sake of..." Indeed, I'm not sure where that phrase would appear.

As I hear it in my mind's ear, the last/fourth line of the verse (or perhaps of both verses) goes "And days of Auld Lange Syne." Would this by where "sake of" appears as an alternative lyric?

I missed hearing it at all this year, by the way. I stayed home nursing a throat infection, along with my daughter and brand-new granddaughter, born 12/3/03. Son-in-law is a waiter, so he was at work hoping to make big tips money on one of the year's biggest evenings, and I was glad to provide a little company for the new mama.