My wife and I have a question about the George M. Cohan song "You're a Grand Old Flag" (I found the words in another thread, but not a discussion devoted to the song.) Does anyone know why the songwriter quotes "Auld Lang Syne" in the penultimate line? i.e.

should auld acquaintance be forgot,
keep your eye on that grand old flag!

We can't see what "Auld Lang Syne" has to do with the message of "Grand Old Flag". Is it a matter of "When other motivations have been forgotten, the flag will give you a clear compass by which to steer"? Or did the songwriter just find himself at a loss for a line, and he filled in the first snippet of words that came to him?

I know that Mr. Cohan isn't around to ask, but maybe he spoke of the matter during his lifetime?

Don