Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?

Subject: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 12:00 PM

This story played on National Public Radio this morning: Twitter Wants To Help You Welcome 2018 With One Climactic Musical Moment.

Guy Lombardo's "Auld Lang Syne" may be "traditional" - it's a dated twentieth century affectation that is fine when I rewatch The Apartment on New Year's Eve, but I like the Phil Collins suggestion and others that followed.

What do you/would you choose to bring in the New Year?

Edited to name the ubiquitous performance of this song.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: Vic Smith
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 12:36 PM

I would choose Auld Lang Syne by Robert Burns.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 12:56 PM

HERE'S a HEALTH to the COMPANY works quite well as a substitute - not a bad rendition here
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 02:14 PM

I would choose Auld Lang Syne by whoever originated it. (Not Burns, according to his own accounts. He was merely the first to set it down in writing)

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 02:45 PM

What's Guy Lombardo got to do with it?

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 02:48 PM

Did you listen to the story?

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 03:04 PM

I'm on a bus and probably couldn't hear a sound stream even if I was antisocial enough to try.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: keberoxu
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 03:14 PM

If you're gonna sing "Auld Lang Syne" on New Year's Eve,
please have the respect to learn the words!

They shall remain nameless, but years back,
before I pretty much stopped watching television,
some celebrity singing voices did a New Year's Eve live-on-TV special
which I sat and watched.

And when they got to Auld Lang Syne,
done as a sing-along for the audience with that symphony orchestra onstage,
the darned singers went "ah - ah - ah" through the whole thing.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: mg
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 03:45 PM

i personally do not feel the need to change it. it is a beautiful song, sung around the world...guy lombardo has never been a factor in my life at all...

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 03:59 PM

Who's Guy Lombardo ?

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: CapriUni
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 04:15 PM

I don't think we need to "retire" Auld Lang Syne, though I do prefer the older melody.

However, if you want some more songs to choose from, Peggy Seeger's "Come fill up your glasses" is a good one.

"Farewell, but Whenever You Welcome the Hour" has a similar melancholy gist as "Auld Lang Syne"...

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: GUEST,akenaton
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 05:03 PM

"Auld lang syne" is the work of one of the worlds finest and most timeless poets a and songwriters.
To suggest that the work is any sort of "Affectation", regardless of who delivers it, shows a marked lack of musical or poetic appreciation.
I prefer the original tune, but the lyrics are faultless, though some may think that they do not fit well into the "diversity" controversy.
Well that's tough shit!!

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 05:09 PM

C.U.   I have been an admirer of Mairi Campbell for a number of years and have conversed with her on other forums quite frequently.
Her versions of many traditional "standards" are simply the best....on a par with June Tabor in my book.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 05:10 PM

Sorry, Ake there.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 05:10 PM

I don't have any suggestions for a replacement but, for me, Auld Lang Syne is a god-awful song that I would be happy never to hear again.

DC

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: GUEST,akenaton
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 05:28 PM

Mairi another version
You would need a pretty hard heart not to be moved......its about real friendship, lifelong friendship......"Not many people know that!!!"

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: GUEST,akenaton
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 05:40 PM

I'm fortunate enough to be in my seventh decade still surrounded by many of my old school friends of the 1950's. We've done our share of "burn paidling", "Gowan pulling" and running "up an' doon the braes" of this part of Scotland, not far from Burns country and we still retain the spirit of the song.
We are still a great big family, the last generation to be so.....but it can be and should be, salvaged.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 06:03 PM

best version I ever heard was from Rod Paterson!

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: GUEST,Sol
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 06:36 PM

If you put Phil Collins' "Something In The Air" in the fire at 11.56.40 it will be totally burned by the bells. Job done.
Let's have Auld Lang Syne for auld Lang syne ... and forever.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: GUEST,akenaton
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 06:45 PM

Excellent choice Bonzo.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: GUEST,akenaton
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 06:55 PM

Mair Mairi...Get-it?

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: Andy7
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 07:18 PM

How about Black Lace's Agadoo? Everyone always joins in that - and knows the words! ;-)

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 07:23 PM

Jack, the article only mentions Guy Lombardo in passing(it's a read by the way, not a listen) "... If Guy Lombardo's rendition of "Auld Lang Syne" the night's traditional chestnut is too stodgy, some more upbeat suggestions popped up. Those include Death Cab for Cutie's "The New Year," Toto's "Africa" and Tina Turner's "The Best."

If livening up your goodbye to 2017 isn't exactly what you had in mind, fear not. Twitter has you covered, too. Several fans of the avant-garde suggest cueing up the Zen-inspired John Cage masterpiece "4'33." ..."

I think the 4'33 idea gets my vote.

Matt Overstreet @chilidog0 21 Dec :
"If you play John Cage's 4'33" at exactly 11:57:12pm on New Year's Eve, the part where you have an introspective breakdown about the arbitrary nature of the very concept of "years" will happen exactly at midnight. Kick off 2018 the right way. Or don't, whatever, nothing changes."

~~~~~~~~~~~

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 08:17 PM

Another vote in favour of keeping Auld Lang Syne, even if it is the version that most people at least know the tune to, if not the words. (Recent story in "The Scotsman" newspaper suggested that even among Scots, only 3% of people know all of the words of the 2 verses usually sung - or when to cross hands and the like!
I love the older tune, and know all 5 verses, though I wouldn't necessarily venture to sing them all at the end of a raucous night. Among friends of a similar leaning, different story.

But if you are seriously looking for another song to finish the night then Alan Bell's "When First We Met" is a good one (NOT Irish!!!!! as I have heard it introduced!!!!!!) or "In Friendship's (Freenship's) name" if you can again get your tongue around the Scots words, or Ian Sinclair's "Tak a Dram Afore ye go" (but don;t take that literally if you're driving!) And various Irish "Parting Glass" songs (but same provisos re who is the designated driver!)

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 08:31 PM

The BBC ALBA Hogmanay programme seems to be finishing up with Arthur Cormack and assembled company all singing Runrig song "Alba". Wonder if that will be the band's final song at their final gig next August in Stirling?
(Easy to join in with - AL-A-BA x 500 times!)
Agus Bliadhna Mhath Uire!

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: GUEST,pauperback
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 08:51 PM

After the magic of Christmas this was, (and may it always be), the incantation that brought in the new year.

Change it? As if.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: GUEST,pauperback
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 09:47 PM

And, not knowing/understanding the words adds to the mystery for us USians, kinda like a Latin mass.

Happy New Year every one

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 09:57 PM

It is a listen, but that earlier link was put up right after the program ended and the audio wasn't available yet. I don't know if it can be heard outside the US, but the blue dot with the triangle will give you the spoken piece.

1947 recording by Guy Lombardo. I think the problem is Lombardo more than the actual song. Over here it's wedded to that big band sound.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: GUEST,pauperback
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 11:49 PM

Phil Collins: If you play 'In The Air Tonight’ by Phil Collins on December 31st at 11:56:40 the drum break will play right as the clock strikes midnight. Start off your new year right"

ok fine but then Auld Lang Syne for sure

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 01 Jan 18 - 03:49 AM

The London fireworks were magnificent!

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jan 18 - 04:02 AM

On BBC Scotland Auld Lang Syne was sung by KT Tunstall with Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain - a perfectly acceptable song when properly performed.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: Mr Red
Date: 01 Jan 18 - 04:26 AM

Linking arms thing.

According to those wot know:

Crossed hands should come second time around when the advance into the centre occurs. Start with hands linked but not crossed.

But who follows that? It's a syne of the times.................

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: David Carter (UK)
Date: 01 Jan 18 - 04:53 AM

I agree with Bonzo, that version with Rod Paterson and other transatlantic musicians, including the late Martyn Bennett, is magnificant.

And I also have never heard of Guy Lombardo

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jan 18 - 05:11 AM

Rod Paterson is an excellent singer, but this particular song should never be turned into a clever musical "production"
Too many cooks??

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jan 18 - 07:14 AM

It's not up to any of us to "retire" anything. Especially not so called cultural and academic "experts", folklorists, politicians or whoever. As long as people wish to sing the sing, they will and quite right too.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jan 18 - 07:14 AM

Nigel....As you probably know Burns was a great collector of traditional music and I find it hard to believe that he has not made some small changes to the lyrics?
"Fae mornin' sun till dine" has a Burnsian? resonance don't you think?

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: GUEST,akenaton
Date: 01 Jan 18 - 07:17 AM

Sorry that was Ake, and I very much agree with GUEST above...well said.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: Johnny J
Date: 01 Jan 18 - 10:23 AM

Oops, guest above was me..... ;-)
Thanks for the approval.....

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: GUEST,akenaton
Date: 01 Jan 18 - 10:34 AM

Hi John. Aw the best pal. :0)   that wis rite spooky...eh?

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: Johnny J
Date: 01 Jan 18 - 10:38 AM

All the best for 2018, Ake.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 01 Jan 18 - 01:46 PM

Guest at 04.02am is being a bit cryptic there: leaving us to ponder if he/she likes or dislikes the version done by KT and PhilnAly last night? I thought the rapid frantic ferocious strum on guitar was way out of order!I often have to play it at then end of ceilidhs but never like that!!!
Only caught it after we switched from the BBC ALBA coverage to see the Festival Fireworks, which were tremendous - better than London's!
Edinburgh Hogmanay Fireworks 2018

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jan 18 - 03:41 PM

Dire stuff Tattie, even worse than the footstompin' days.
Total embarrassment really.
Ah even went tae Jack McLaughlin's show ah wis that desperate...an that jist aboot feenisht me aff!!
Even a gless eh Glenmorangie didnae help. :0(

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: Mr Red
Date: 02 Jan 18 - 06:52 AM

Well If you want a new song to welcome the new year, how is that going to encourage us to make physical contact with others? The song is purely a vehicle for a concept.
The concept is to commune, reboot the relationships. And you ain'ta gonna make much communion without at least holding hands.
My New Year was a gathering with ceilidh dancing and silly games and a mumming play. At Midnight we did the deed, communed and men shook hands and ladies hugged us. It is an excuse to make physical contact and as we all know it releases those endorphins and oxytocin.
Apart from such hormones being very pleasant they are very good for your health, better than cortisol anyway.

Now all of which could be created with any song, but those proposing a new song will almost certainly miss the need for contact.
The song is just a vehicle, don't lose the concept - it is greater than the parts!

Baby and bathwater?

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: David Carter (UK)
Date: 02 Jan 18 - 07:09 AM

Winter being the season of norovirus, physical contact with strangers is best avoided.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: GUEST,Sol
Date: 02 Jan 18 - 08:05 AM

For listening, I prefer Mairi Campbell's version. At the end of an evening of drunken celebrations the better-known tune is fine for the old arm-locking ritual.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 02 Jan 18 - 02:35 PM

Personally, I've always thought this had a lot going for it, ever since first hearing Tony sing it at Aberdeen Folk Club when I first met him in 1972 :

https://youtu.be/rjNv_ewdjp4

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jan 18 - 02:50 PM

Judging by the shots of the crowd at the end of the London fireworks, just give up on the idea as people only want to take selfies.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Jan 18 - 02:52 PM

Nice song, Kenny.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: JMB
Date: 02 Jan 18 - 04:36 PM

I prefer Auld Lang Syne. Sung in the Scots dialect. The Ronnie Browne version is superb.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 02 Jan 18 - 07:35 PM

The vast bulk of Auld Lang Syne is Burns own work. He based it on a poem first published in Watson's Collection then Allan Ramsay wrote version too. Burns only used the term Auld Lang Syne and he used the first line and the second line is similar. Apart from that though the rest of the verses in Burns song bare no resemblance to the original poem,plus the language used is different, plus the theme of the lyrics is not the same.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 02 Jan 18 - 08:09 PM

I prefer the older tune / full song - but if its a drunken melee then the inevitable has to be bowed to and the two verse /holding hand s/ better kent version must prevail!

BUT -- please please please puleeeese do NOT sing 'auld lang Zyne' - that disnae mean onythin' at a' and is excruciating for Scots' ears!

Pronounce it 'ssyne' - a soft 's' sound. Or don't sing it!

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: JMB
Date: 02 Jan 18 - 08:37 PM

I agree Gallus Moll on the pronunciation of Syne. It is extremely irritating when they mispronounce it.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: mg
Date: 03 Jan 18 - 12:16 AM

well you won't have to listen to me mispronounce it then. shouldn't we be glad that there is one song the whole world likes to sing together one night of the year? and anyone is going to pronounce another language differently than native speakers plus it has pretty much gotten into our heads the wrong way.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 03 Jan 18 - 08:28 PM

I can accept that non-Scots may mispronounce it - - but it is unforgivable when natives say Zyne, particularly when they are on a concert platform/leading the singing through a microphone or worse, on tv!!!
I find that unacceptable and embarrassing.
Pedantic I may be but I just cannot understand why they don't make a tiny bit of effort to understand what they are actually singing about?!

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: Richard Mellish
Date: 04 Jan 18 - 10:27 AM

It's a pity that a song with such a universal meaning and nowadays so widely known is in a language that only some Scots and very few others understand. Other Scots and almost everyone else recognise "auld lang syne" (or more often "old lang zyne") only as a composite phrase having some vague meaning along the lines "old times", if indeed they understand it at all. They don't know the word "syne" in its own right, they don't know the verses, and they wouldn't understand them if they heard them.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: Mr Red
Date: 04 Jan 18 - 11:19 AM

Winter being the season of norovirus, physical contact with strangers is best avoided.

Norovirus is not exactly, per se, of itself a killer. Depression is. Physical contact can and does alleviate the ailment.

After a night of Barn Dancing, I for one, wouldn't worry about a cold. 'Flu maybe but then, non of the guilty parties are called Noro. Which BTW is The virus is usually spread by the fecal/oral route.[2] see Wiki.
A rather torturous route to the catching thereof.

I would submit it is easier to catch a rhino. Albeit, when it is obvious you have the rhino netted, you ain't infectious.

Give me hugs, I'll deal with the beast later.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: BobL
Date: 04 Jan 18 - 01:08 PM

But would you catch a rhinovirus with a net?

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 04 Jan 18 - 06:28 PM

- which reminds me of the great poem (my dad used to recite) / song (as sung by the late John Eaglesham on 'Half Cut' cd) about how to go about 'poaching rhinosauruses'
- too late at night for me to check the spelling but that's roughly how it is pronounced in the piece!

As for Richard's comments - are you regretting that Burns wrote mainly in Scots (?!), or that few people (Scots or otherwise) bother to seek out the meaning of the song?

Most people of my acquaintance have a reasonable understanding of Scots - they often use Scottish words in their conversation and writing. There are a couple of excellent Scots dictionaries available, and anyone who is familiar with the work of Robert Burns will have be familiar with the language.

(I read recently that there's an app - I am not sure what an app is? - that allows Scots to be used on a phone keypad).

I don't know many people who speak Lallans, tho there are some people who write letters to the papers using it

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 04 Jan 18 - 06:57 PM

There's several archaic words and expressions in the other verses but I think most Scots would understand the bulk of it well enough. Though it is true most won't actually know the other verses that well.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: mg
Date: 04 Jan 18 - 07:04 PM

i think that those are wonderful reasons for such a song...it is in a language that most english speakers can figure out..most people have a general idea of it being about friends across the miles, years etc..it is a universal sentiment. I am glad it is not in regular English. I think most English speakers can figure out what we twa hae wandered boot the braes frae morning sun till dine..boy i hope i did that right.. means...and they like it. they sang it in cameroon, in switzerland, in guam, and most people liked it and nothing to criticize about it. i hate killing folk music. if it dies a natural death, fine, but if it dies from snobbery, not so good.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: Mr Red
Date: 05 Jan 18 - 03:03 AM

if it is killed off for fashion or financial reason ................... treason!

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Jan 18 - 01:30 PM

Aye your dead right Gallus, John was a lovely man and so full of enthusiasm for the music. I remember well, and I'm sure you will have had the same experience, of being asked by John to "come an' listen tae this wee song ah've got" and he wounld put his hand ower his ear and give you a personal performance, always keen to hear what you thought of his work, did you get the feeling?
Sadly missed.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: GUEST,akenaton
Date: 05 Jan 18 - 02:37 PM

Guest above me.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: Richard Mellish
Date: 05 Jan 18 - 03:32 PM

"As for Richard's comments - are you regretting that Burns wrote mainly in Scots (?!), or that few people (Scots or otherwise) bother to seek out the meaning of the song?"

Certainly not that Burns wrote in Scots. I have some regret about people who aren't familiar with Scots not bothering to investigate. But mainly I was regretting the mere fact of a song which has so much else going for it happening to be in a language that is much less widely understood than standard English.

Though I am English, I have a reasonable working knowledge of Scots from many years of listening to songs, particularly some of the "muckle sangs" and those made by Hamish Henderson; and from staying in the Edinburgh area for the last couple of years of my university career. Most English speakers are far less familiar with Scots.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 05 Jan 18 - 03:53 PM

Richard -
Aye, weel - if they dinna care tae learn whit the true meaning o' yon sang is - then hell mend them!
I thing it wad be sacrilege tae change the words intae standard inglis for the masses wha canna be botherit---

meantime I will continue to sing all the verses, no' jist the twa, and use the auld tune - it is a bonnie sang, no' raucous, full o' sentiment and reminiscence.

Scots words and phrases have more depth than might appear - not straight translations from one language to another (e.g. Freedom Come A' Ye - phrases like "a' they rogues that ging gallus, fresh and gay" paint an amazing picture if you seek out the full meaning.

Akenaton- I suppose it is the age we have reached, but do we no' seem tae have lost an awfy lot o' singers and musicians in the last twa/three years? Thank goodness we have such braw memories o' their sangs and tunes, a' the sessions in Whistlefield, McRailds place in Strachur, Ardentinny, Tam Hill's ferm, festivals?
I thought I would spend my retirement singin' wi' a' ma freens fae the fowk club an' the like - but the hauf o them are deid! Dammit!!

In many situations a Scots word or phrase will allow me to express thoughts and feelings in a way English cannot.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Jan 18 - 05:13 PM

"In many situations a Scots word or phrase will allow me to express thoughts and feelings in a way English cannot."
Just finish re-reading the Daft Days By Neil Munroe The language is wonderful. Stuff my Grandparents used commonly. They were both born in the late 1800s and their speech was echoed in Munroe's novel, written around 1900.
I find many of these old words and phrases coming back to me as I get near the wire.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: GUEST,a
Date: 05 Jan 18 - 05:15 PM

Sorry "A" that was me again

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: Richard Mellish
Date: 06 Jan 18 - 06:08 AM

Gallus Moll said
"Aye, weel - if they dinna care tae learn whit the true meaning o' yon sang is - then hell mend them!"

Aye. Ignore thae ba' heedit nyaffs.

"I thing it wad be sacrilege tae change the words intae standard inglis for the masses wha canna be botherit---"

I agree. I never said it should be translated.

"meantime I will continue to sing all the verses, no' jist the twa, and use the auld tune - it is a bonnie sang, no' raucous, full o' sentiment and reminiscence."

I've no quarrel with that either.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 06 Jan 18 - 06:51 PM

Gaun' yersel' Richard!
(-ba'heedit nyaffs- - - hahahahaha! - or could be baldy wee bauchles?!)

Guest - -is that you, Akenaton?
Did ye ken that Neil Munro wrote some poems? I came across a slim volume in Library HQ - keep meaning to contact the Neil Munro Society to see if they have reprinted it (they are based in his hometown Inveraray) I use a couple as songs- one to an existing tune, the other a friend composed an air for it.
(Wish Jim Reid was still around for the rest!)

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jan 18 - 05:10 AM

Didn't know that GM, thanks. When I see you, you can give me some more info....plus update on Gordeanna.

You are a richt wee dooer o' good deeds....I've something sad to pass on masell.

Sorry about the confusion regarding login....I've been here fourteen years and being banned for something which I am unaware of is disconcerting to say the least. However, things are falling into place and one must learn to "adapt"....eh no'?

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jan 18 - 07:11 AM

Going back to the crossing of arms, Mr Red is correct as usual...dammit!
The actions he describes certainly go back to the 1950's at least in Argyll and Bute.

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 07 Jan 18 - 01:17 PM

Thanks for update Ake -- are you sure you are banned?

Periodically I have to renew my password --   first couple of times I was all confused but Joe Offer talked me through it!

So- - have a look at the instructions for logging in -- I can't actually remember what you have to do, I get disconcerted when it happens and I am no longer recognised but it is actually quite straightforward -- and if you get stuck - ask Joe or one of the other admins?!

Gallus xxx

Subject: RE: Retire 'Auld Lang Syne' - use what song instead?
From: Ian
Date: 10 Jan 18 - 12:09 PM

When first we met... would be my choice.