'Auld Lang Syne': The meaning of what you'll be singing on New Year's Eve

If you're out and about at midnight on New Year's Eve, chances are you'll hear people ringing in 2011 by singing -- wistfully, loudly, drunkenly -- "Auld Lang Syne."

But although you may not know it from the guys at the end of the bar slurring their way through the song, "Auld Lang Syne" actually has lyrics, and they actually mean something.  The words were written by the great Scottish poet Robert Burns in the 18th century and were later set to the tune of a traditional folk song. "Auld lang syne" loosely translates to "old times' sake," so it's sung at the end of the year as a remembrance of the things that have transpired in the past 365 days.

Here are the lyrics to the first verse and chorus. There are other verses, but most Dec. 31 renditions stop there. Read along as Mariah Carey gives you her rendition (complete with gratuitous fireworks).

The words:

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

The performance:



Happy New Year, everyone!