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What’s the Deal Behind ‘Auld Lang Syne’ on New Year’s Eve, Anyway? on December 30, 2023 at 12:00 am Us Weekly

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Victoria and David Beckham. Courtesy of Victoria Beckham/Instagram

“Should old acquaintance be forgot / And never brought to mind” — wait, what does that even mean?

Every New Year’s Eve brings about many attempts at singing the one song everybody associates with the holiday: “Auld Lang Syne.” Few partygoers, however, know the words, and fewer still understand what “auld lang syne” even means. If your resolution going into 2024 was to not start the year off ignorant of the song’s history, allow Us Weekly to help you keep that promise.

Keep reading to learn the tune’s meaning and find a few notable covers to add to your playlist.

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What Does “Auld Lang Syne” Mean?

“Auld Lang Syne” literally means “old long since,” which roughly translates to “days gone by.” When you sing, “Should old acquaintance be forgot / And never brought to mind,” you’re rhetorically asking, “Should old friends be forgotten?” Should the old days we’ve experienced be left behind, or, should we remember them and toast them with a “cup o’ kindness,” as mentioned later in the song?

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The tune is essentially a drinking song about fond remembrance of the good ol’ days, which is appropriate to sing at the start of a new year, when the chance to make some new “good ol’ days” is just around the corner.

The History of “Auld Lang Syne”

“Auld Lang Syne” is attributed to Robert Burns, the national poet of Scotland. In 1788, Burns wrote down the lyrics to “Auld Lang Syne” and sent them to the Scot Musical Museum, a collection of traditional folk music of Scotland. Burns wrote that the words were taken “from an old man’s singing.” While the song has long been associated with Burns, Encyclopedia Britannica notes that poets including Sir Robert Ayton and Allan Ramsay wrote works that had similar lines to “Auld Lang Syne.” These works are cited as Burns’s inspiration, while the credit for “Auld Lang Syne” remains solely his.

The melody is credited to Geroge Thomson, who put it to Burns’ words in 1799. Like Burns’ lyrics, Thomson’s melody has been linked to prior works, including that of William Shield (who used a similar tune in 1782) and volume four of the Scot Musical Museum in 1792, though this version didn’t use the “Auld Lang Syne” lyrics. Thomson paired the music and words together, and thus the song we’ve come to know as the New Year’s Eve anthem was born.

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As for how it became associated with the holiday, credit Guy Lombardo. The Canadian-born bandleader would lead his group, the Royal Canadians, in playing “Auld Lang Syne” on his popular radio broadcasts. Lombardo made the successful leap to television, and for more than 30 years, he and the Royal Canadians would play “Auld Lang Syne” on New Year’s Eve for viewers at home. Other bandleaders followed, including Jack Parnell (who the Muppets and Vincent Price lampooned on The Muppet Show), further spreading the association between New Year’s Eve and “Auld Lang Syne.”

The Lyrics to “Auld Lang Syne”

Since this is a song adapted from a Scottish poem and based on Scottish folklore, there are a few Scottish words in the song.

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Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne.

[Chorus]
For auld lang syne, my jo,
For auld lang syne.
We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp!

And surely I’ll be mine!
And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

[Chorus]
For auld lang syne, my jo,
For auld lang syne.
We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

We twa hae run about the braes

And pu’d the gowans fine
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary foot
Sin auld lang syne.

[Chorus]
For auld lang syne, my jo,
For auld lang syne.
We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere

And gie’s a hand o’ thine
And we’ll take a right gude-willy waught,
For auld lang syne

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[Chorus]
For auld lang syne, my jo,
For auld lang syne.
We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

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Notable Covers

Mariah Carey

While the song’s lyrics still capture the bittersweetness of the holiday, Carey turns her version into a club banger.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

Taken from Springsteen’s New Year’s Eve concert at the Nassau Coliseum in 1980, this rendition is a rockin’ version that shows that you don’t need words to celebrate.

The Platters

New Year’s Eve is a chance to dress up, sip champagne and feel classy. One of the best ways to do so is to put on The Platters, whose version of “Auld Lang Syne” is pure magic.

Jimi Hendrix

In December 1969, Hendrix recorded an EP with bassist Billy Cox and drummer Buddy Miles. The trio practiced in extensive rehearsals for an appearance at the Fillmore East. To commemorate what was to be the start of a new chapter (Hendrix would die in September 1970 at age 27), the guitar legend recorded a medley of holiday songs, including “Little Drummer Boy,” “Silent Night” and “Auld Lang Syne.” While revisiting Christmas music on December 31 might seem a little gauche, Jimi Hendrix’s guitar rendition of “Auld Lang Syne” is worth it.

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“Should old acquaintance be forgot / And never brought to mind” — wait, what does that even mean? Every New Year’s Eve brings about many attempts at singing the one song everybody associates with the holiday: “Auld Lang Syne.” Few partygoers, however, know the words, and fewer still understand what “auld lang syne” even means. 

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What We Can Learn Inside 50 Cent’s Explosive Diddy Documentary: 5 Reasons You Should Watch

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50 Cent’s new Netflix docuseries about Sean “Diddy” Combs is more than a headline-grabbing exposé; it is a meticulous breakdown of how power, celebrity, and silence can collide in the entertainment industry.

Across its episodes, the series traces Diddy’s rise, the allegations that followed him for years, and the shocking footage and testimonies now forcing a wider cultural reckoning.

For viewers, it offers not just drama, but lessons about media literacy, accountability, and how society treats survivors when a superstar is involved.

Rapper 50 Cent pictured in Tup Tup Palace night club with owners James Jukes and Matt LoveDough, Newcastle, UK, 7th November 2015

1. It Chronicles Diddy’s Rise and Fall – And How Power Warps Reality

The docuseries follows Combs from hitmaker and business icon to a figure facing serious criminal conviction and public disgrace, mapping out decades of influence, branding, and behind-the-scenes behavior. Watching that arc shows how money, fame, and industry relationships can shield someone from scrutiny and delay accountability, even as disturbing accusations accumulate.

Rapper 50 Cent pictured in Tup Tup Palace night club with owners James Jukes and Matt LoveDough, Newcastle, UK, 7th November 2015

2. Never-Before-Seen Footage Shows How Narratives Are Managed

Exclusive footage of Diddy in private settings and in the tense days around his legal troubles reveals how carefully celebrity narratives are shaped, even in crisis.

Viewers can learn to question polished statements and recognize that what looks spontaneous in public is often the result of strategy, damage control, and legal calculation.

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3. Survivors’ Stories Highlight Patterns of Abuse and Silence

Interviews with alleged victims, former staff, and industry insiders describe patterns of control, fear, and emotional or physical harm that were long whispered about but rarely aired in this detail. Their stories underline how difficult it is to speak out against a powerful figure, teaching viewers why many survivors delay disclosure and why consistent patterns across multiple accounts matter.

4. 50 Cent’s Approach Shows Storytelling as a Tool for Accountability

As executive producer, 50 Cent uses his reputation and platform to push a project that leans into uncomfortable truths rather than protecting industry relationships. The series demonstrates how documentary storytelling can challenge established power structures, elevate marginalized voices, and pressure institutions to respond when traditional systems have failed.

5. The Cultural Backlash Reveals How Society Handles Celebrity Accountability

Reactions to the doc—ranging from people calling it necessary and brave to others dismissing it as a vendetta or smear campaign—expose how emotionally invested audiences can be in defending or condemning a famous figure. Watching that debate unfold helps viewers see how fandom, nostalgia, and bias influence who is believed, and why conversations about “cancel culture” often mask deeper questions about justice and who is considered too powerful to fall.

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South Park’s Christmas Episode Delivers the Antichrist

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A new Christmas-themed episode of South Park is scheduled to air with a central plot in which Satan is depicted as preparing for the birth of an Antichrist figure. The premise extends a season-long narrative arc that has involved Satan, Donald Trump, and apocalyptic rhetoric, positioning this holiday episode as a culmination of those storylines rather than a stand‑alone concept.

Episode premise and season context

According to published synopses and entertainment coverage, the episode frames the Antichrist as part of a fictional storyline that blends religious symbolism with commentary on politics, media, and cultural fear. This follows earlier Season 28 episodes that introduced ideas about Trump fathering an Antichrist child and tech billionaire Peter Thiel obsessing over prophecy and end‑times narratives. The Christmas setting is presented as a contrast to the darker themes, reflecting the series’ pattern of pairing holiday imagery with controversial subject matter.

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Public and political reactions

Coverage notes that some figures connected to Donald Trump’s political orbit have criticized the season’s portrayal of Trump and his allies, describing the show as relying on shock tactics rather than substantive critique. Commentators highlight that these objections are directed more at the depiction of real political figures and the show’s tone than at the specific theology of the Antichrist storyline.

At the time of reporting, there have not been widely reported, detailed statements from major religious leaders focused solely on this Christmas episode, though religion-focused criticism of South Park in general has a long history.

Media and cultural commentary

Entertainment outlets such as The Hollywood Reporter, Entertainment Weekly, Forbes, Slate, and USA Today describe the Antichrist arc as part of South Park’s ongoing use of Trump-era and tech-world politics as material for satire.

These reports emphasize that the show’s treatment of the Antichrist, Satan, and prophecy is designed as exaggerated commentary rather than doctrinal argument, while also acknowledging that many viewers may see the storyline as offensive or excessive.

Viewer guidance and content advisory

South Park is rated TV‑MA and is intended for adult audiences due to strong language, explicit themes, and frequent use of religious and political satire. Viewers who are sensitive to depictions of Satan, the Antichrist, or parodies involving real political figures may find this episode particularly objectionable, while others may view it as consistent with the show’s long‑running approach to controversial topics. As with previous episodes, individual responses are likely to vary widely, and the episode is best understood as part of an ongoing satirical series rather than a factual or theological statement.

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Sydney Sweeney Finally Confronts the Plastic Surgery Rumors

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Sydney Sweeney has decided she is finished watching strangers on the internet treat her face like a forensic project. After years of side‑by‑side screenshots, “then vs now” TikToks, and long comment threads wondering what work she has supposedly had done, the actor is now addressing the plastic surgery rumors directly—and using them to say something larger about how women are looked at in Hollywood and online.

Sweeney at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival red carpet premiere of Christy

Growing Up on Camera vs. “Before and After” Culture

Sweeney points out that people are often mistaking normal changes for procedures: she grew up on camera, her roles now come with big‑budget glam teams, and her body has shifted as she has trained, aged, and worked nonstop. Yet every new red‑carpet photo gets folded into a narrative that assumes surgeons, not time, are responsible. Rather than walking through a checklist of what is “real,” she emphasizes how bizarre it is that internet detectives comb through pores, noses, and jawlines as if they are owed an explanation for every contour of a woman’s face.

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The Real Problem Isn’t Her Face

By speaking up, Sweeney is redirecting the conversation away from her features and toward the culture that obsesses over them.

She argues that the real issue isn’t whether an actress has had work done, but why audiences feel so entitled to dissect her body as public property in the first place.

For her, the constant speculation is less about curiosity and more about control—another way to tell women what they should look like and punish them when they do not fit. In calling out that dynamic, Sweeney isn’t just defending herself; she is forcing fans and followers to ask why tearing apart someone else’s appearance has become such a popular form of entertainment.


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