Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Auld langsyne

Robert Burns

“Auld langsyne” as printed in The Scottish Minstrel (First Series) (1850).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 70 1850 · historical text
Public domainScottish songFolk
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Scottish Minstrel (First Series), a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And never brought to min'?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And days o' langsyne?

For auld langsyne, my dear,

For auld langsyne,

We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,

For auld langsyne.

Verse 2

We twa hae run about the braes,

And pu'd the gowans fine:

But we've wander'd mony a wearie fit

Sin' auld langsyne.

For auld langsyne, &c.

Verse 3

We twa hae paidl't i' the burn

Whan simmer days were prime;

But seas between us braid hae roar'd

Sin' auld langsyne.

For auld langsyne, &c.

Verse 4

And there's a hand, my trusty frien',

And gie's a haud o' thine,

And we'll toom the cup to friendship's growth.

For auld langsyne.

For auld langsyne, &c.

Verse 5

And surely ye'll be your pint stoup,

As sure as I'll be mine,

And we'll tak a right guid walie-waught,

For auld langsynen.

For auld langsyne, &c.

Credits

Written by Robert Burns

Words by Robert Burns. Historical text published in The Scottish Minstrel (First Series) (1850); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Scottish Minstrel (First Series) (1850), “Auld langsyne”

Every contribution in this 1850 anthology predates modern copyright terms; any contributor died more than 130 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-12. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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