If you’re like me, you know the first line of that song we sing at midnight on New Year’s Eve and that’s about it. The song (at least when I sing it, anyway), goes something like this: “Should old acquaintance be forgot… daa dahh daa da daa da daahhhhhhhh (hic!) Should old acquaintance be forgot… doo doo dah dah daa daa blaaaaaahhhhhh!”

My last act of kindness for the year is to look the damn words up and reprint them here.

The song is called “Auld Lang Syne,” and was written by Robert Burns in 1788. It’s a Scottish poem whose title roughly translates to “Old Long Since,” or more loosley: ”Days Gone By.” The poem was meant to be an act of reflection on the past (something many of us end up doing on the last day of the year).

Thanks to those of you who have supported me this past year. Thanks for your help with my work, thanks for your friendship, laughter, and thanks to all the good spirits I had the fortune of bumping into along the way in 2008. May 2009 bring you all something special. Without further ado, “Auld Lang Syne.”

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old times since ?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !
And surely I’ll buy mine !
And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine^† ;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend !
And give us a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

Those of you who know me pretty well know that occasionally the muse descends and I have been known to write a song or two. Usually the songs are about something deep and meaningful, like hunting Santa’s reindeer, or what happens when you eat bad Mexican food. I don’t know what it is about Christmas, but the season just brings out my irreverent side.

This Christmas is no different. On Thanksgiving day of this year I started messing around with some lyrics. Soon verses gave way to choruses, choruses to solos… ahhh… I’m making this bigger than it is.

I’m blessed to have some talented friends. I wrote the song “My Christmas Tree is Haunted,” figured out a good key on my guitar, and sent the 12-bar blues number over to my best friend since childhood, John Judd. John’s the real musician. He put all of the music together and we realized that a song this good needed someone who can sing. So I called my father-in-law, Robert Peckman, and he got to work on the vocals. John pieced everything together and our new band, The Ghostvillage Memorial Choir was born. Don’t be looking for us to gig anywhere anytime soon, but do watch for more songs in the future.

Without further ado, you can download/listen to the MP3 of the song by clicking here (the file is 10 MB).

Rock this one ’round your Christmas tree at home.