*Obviously, I cannot take credit for the genius title that is this blog. The credit is all due to our local hometown singer/songwriter Dan Fogelberg, who passed away several years ago. But he was born and raised in Peoria and arguably his most famous song was Same Auld Lang Syne, which was inspired by actual events that occurred about a mile from where I’m sitting in this coffee shop.

(photo credit: @danfogelbergmusic.com Facebook page)

The song is, essentially, about a boy running into his ex girlfriend when they are both home for the holidays. It’s a chance, random encounter but they decide to have a few drinks together and catch up. The part that kills me is, in the end, they go their separate ways and he’s left to walk home in the rain.

The song is a bittersweet one, even more so when you realize that it actually happened and that Dan is no longer living. I love it, I listen to it in its entirety every time it comes on the radio, and I search for it during the holidays on Pandora. But it makes me cry more often than not, and that’s ok. Up until 6 months ago I really wasn’t nursing a broken heart – so I chalked up the emotions it evoked as really good storytelling and connecting with that familiar feeling of “what might have been”. We’ve all felt that. But we feel it, momentarily (or not) and then we move on.

But this year, of course, the song hit me differently. It was the first holiday season without my Dad. 2020 is the first full calendar year where I will live without him. And my heart is most definitely, completely, and utterly broken. “Auld Lang Syne” is the traditional Scottish song – with its origins in poetry – that’s sung as the baton passes from New Years’ Eve into New Year’s Day.

Here are the lyrics (English translation) from Wikipedia, from Robert Burns original poem:

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne?

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.

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 me a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

As they said in the movie When Harry Met Sally, it’s about good friends. Apparently the phrase “auld lang syne” is the equivalent of “once upon a time”. While doing some research for this post, I learned that in many other countries, this song is sung at funerals. The Irish have a similar song for funerals and wakes, called “The Parting Glass”:

Good night, and joy be with you all.