Old Scottish man hummed a tune 236 years ago and it's still America’s favorite 'New Year' song
'It has been the national anthem of countries throughout history at times.'
Robert Burns, a Scottish poet, heard a peasant humming a song in 1788. He immediately wrote down the lyrics and sent them to his friend, Frances Dunlop, as a poem. The world remained oblivious to it until Burns's demise, as the poem was then published in a collection of Scottish songs in 1796. Later, about 11 years after Burns first wrote the poem, George Thomson finally set it to music. The beautiful song "Auld Lang Syne" is now a famous melody worldwide. More interestingly, even after 236 years, the song is still America's favorite New Year's tune. On December 28, Sean Dietrich (@seanofthesouth), a columnist from Alabama, took to his Instagram profile to share a brief history of the New Year's song and discuss its relevance after hundreds of years, leaving netizens in awe.
The song, "Auld Lang Syne," is an 18th-century Scottish phrase, meaning "old long since" or "for old times' sake," became popular in America only in 1929 when Guy Lombardo, a band leader performed it on radio with his brothers, Travis Alexander, a professor in North Carolina A&T State University’s College of Art, Humanities and Social Sciences, told USA Today. It almost became like a tradition for Lombardo to perform live every year at midnight over the radio. He continued to lead his band on the radio until 1955; later, they switched to television. Notably, even after Lombardo's demise, his brothers continued ringing in the New Year with the very special song on television.
Dietrich explained that the song is widely sung on multiple occasions across the globe. While in Korea, he said, it's specifically sung at sporting events, many countries use it to celebrate when a new government replaces an older one. "It has been the national anthem of countries throughout history at times," Dietrich added. In fact, the song is so auspicious to Americans that it was sung when the British flag (Union Jack) was lowered in the USA. In Scotland, it is synonymous with festivities, whether it's weddings or New Year celebrations. Dietrich said he's always been in awe of how the beautiful song that speaks about friendship, love, kindness, and finding each other, is the first thing people sing to welcome the upcoming year.
Dietrich, who had meticulously studied the history of "Auld Lang Syne," sang the song for his audience in his Instagram video. Reacting to it, @emily.k.ford commented, "Thank you for taking the time to learn these songs' histories and sharing them with us. Your page has become one of my favorites and always brings joy and knowledge to me! Happy New Year!"
Similarly, @mw05grankids wrote, "Your video popped up on my page right before Christmas. I was so in awe of the story you were telling and the music you played that I sent it to almost everyone I know on Instagram. Thank you so much for these videos. Also, I went through and watched so many of your other videos posted. May you have a blessed New Year." @harrisoncatalina shared, "We sing it every year at the New Year party of a polo club called Media Luna near a tiny village in the middle of the Argentine pampas. The club is over 100 years old and was founded by English settlers." @pono4jarp commented, "I have always felt there was a deep history behind this song, but did not understand it! Thank you."
You can follow Sean Dietrich (@seanofthesouth) on Instagram for more song-related history.
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