Here's a translation, which you can see refers to a friendship between childhood friends

who have been parted and met again. Literally it means that for the sake of our long
friendship we should join hands and share a drink together in the spirit of good will. To
extend that meaning it means that we should not forget our old friends and celebrate
reunion with them.

Should old acquaintances be forgotten,

And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintances be forgotten,
And days of long ago !

Chorus:
For old long ago, my dear
For old long ago,
We will take a cup of kindness yet
For old long ago.

We two have run about the hillsides

And pulled the daisies fine,
But we have wandered many a weary foot
For old long ago.

We two have paddled (waded) in the stream

From noon until dinner time,
But seas between us broad have roared
Since old long ago.

And there is a hand, my trusty friend,

And give us a hand of yours,
And we will take a goodwill draught (of ale)
For old long ago!

And surely you will pay for your pint,

And surely I will pay for mine!
And we will take a cup of kindness yet
For old long ago!
1 year ago
Source(s):
Here's an interesting link on the traditional Scottish celebration of New Years Eve or
'Hogmanay'

http://www.rampantscotland.com/know/blkn...

Words adapated from a traditional song

by Rabbie Burns (1759-96)

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 tak a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp,

And surely I'll be mine,
And we'll tak a cup o kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

We twa hae run about the braes,

And pou'd the gowans fine,
But we've wander'd monie a weary fit,
Sin auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn

Frae morning sun till dine,
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin auld lang syne.

And there's a hand my trusty fiere,

And gie's a hand o thine,
And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught,
For auld lang syne

Meanings

auld lang syne - times gone by

be - pay for
braes - hills
braid - broad
burn - stream
dine - dinner time
fiere - friend
fit - foot
gowans - daisies
guid-willie waught - goodwill drink
monie - many
morning sun - noon
paidl't - paddled
pint-stowp - pint tankard
pou'd - pulled
twa - two