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For the latest news from Scotland see our ScotNews feed at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/
Electric Scotland News
I was reading today that Sainsbury, one of the UK's largest supermarket groups, has discovered that many people don't know the words of Auld Lang Syne and many people don't know that Robert Burns wrote it.
On there web site they are offering a download of a pdf file with the words.
That decided me on looking to see what we have on the site to help folk find out about this song and so I now offer you a link to the whole story about the song and you can read it at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...s/langsyne.htm
Videos
As I really took it easy over the Christmas period I decided to do a few videos on YouTube which I have put links to below in the Electric Scotland section.
Remembering folk who passed away in 2017
In particular I'd like to remember...
Ranald McIntyre at: http://www.electricscotland.org/show...anald-McIntyre
He also has a page on our site at: http://www.electricscotland.com/frie...nald/index.htm
John Henderson at: http://www.electricscotland.org/show...home-in-Cyprus
Some of his work can be read at: http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/doggerels.htm
He also created our page on Scottish Songs where you can listen to and read the words of 130 of these popular songs. These are available at: http://www.electricscotland.com/poet...son/singalong/
Scottish News from this weeks newspapers
Note that this is a selection and more can be read in our ScotNews feed on our index page where we list news from the past 1-2 weeks. I am partly doing this to build an archive of modern news from and about Scotland as all the newsletters are archived and also indexed on Google and other search engines. I might also add that in newspapers such as the Guardian, Scotsman, Courier, etc. you will find many comments which can be just as interesting as the news story itself and of course you can also add your own comments if you wish.
Meet the donkey who thinks he is the family dog
A little donkey has become a pet to a farming family who brought him indoors to save his life.
Read more at:
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-...ntral-42440616
Little Red white and blue riding hood
A topical Christmas story
Read more at:
http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2017/12...ristmas-story/
Inside one of Scotland’s greatest photo albums
An unique archive of nearly 50,000 photographs gives a remarkable pictorial history of the Highlands over more than 125 years.
Read more at:
https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/i...bums-1-4643111
The lost and sometimes madcap customs of a Scottish Hogmanay
From holly whipping to lucky cheese and a strange procession led by a man covered in cow hide, Hogmanay celebrations in Scotland have long been madcap affairs.
Read more at:
https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/t...anay-1-4645901
India to leapfrog UK and France in 2018
India looks set to leapfrog Britain and France next year to become the world’s fifth-largest economy in dollar terms, a report showed on Tuesday.
Read more at:
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-gl...-idUKKBN1EK00F
The country that brought its elephants back from the brink
Prince Harry is the new president of a conservation group called African Parks, which takes over national parks and gives rangers military-style training to take on poachers and protect wildlife.
Read more at:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-42367560
Auld Lang Syne could be lost as only 3 per cent know the words
The future of Auld Lang Syne as the centrepiece of New Year celebrations around the world has been thrown into doubt after a new study showed just 3 per cent of people in the UK know the words.
Read more at:
https://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/aul...ords-1-4648493
Electric Canadian
Industrial Canada
Added volume 13 which you can read at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/tran...rial/index.htm
First Report of the Bureau of Archives for the Province of Ontario
By Alexander Fraser (1903)
You can read this at: http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...rio/bureau.htm
The Times of Old, and their Happy Memories
A Discourse in two parts Preached in St. Andrew's Church, Toronto on the Occasion of The Tricentenary of the Scottish Reformation by John Marclay, D.D. (1861) (pdf)
You can read this at: http://www.electriccanadian.com/Religion/timesofold.pdf
Electric Scotland
Beth's Newfangled Family Tree
Added the January section 1 for 2018 which you can read at: http://www.electricscotland.com/bnft/index.htm
Midshipman's Diary
A few notes extracted from the Cockpit Journal of a Man-Of-War (1862)
You can read this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...psmandiary.pdf
Elsie Dinsmore
A story By Martha Findley from the 1800's. This is the original book but there are also many follow up books which we've added another four to the site. See this under our Scottish Fairy Tales page under the final section Children's Stories.
You can read these at: http://www.electricscotland.com/kids/stories/index.htm
Clan Buchanan
Got in their January 2018 newsletter which you can read at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...anan/index.htm
Health and Education
I did a video to talk about health and education as I intend to do some research on this in 2018.
You can watch it at: http://www.electricscotland.org/show...-and-Education
General thoughts at the end of 2017
Did a video about my thoughts at the end of 2017 about education, Brexit and Scottish Independence.
You can watch it at:
http://www.electricscotland.org/show...he-end-of-2017
Wishing you a Merry Christmas
Did a wee video to wish you a Merry Christmas
You can view this at:
The Story
Auld Lang Syne
Article by Peter Wright
Burns' name is not affixed to this world-famous song, and yet there can be no doubt it is chiefly his own. He admitted to Johnson that the two verses beginning respectively, "We tae hae ran about the braes," and "We twa hae paidl'd in the burn," are his own, although in sending the song to Mrs. Dunlop in December, 1788, and also is writing about it to Thomson, in September, 1793, he speaks of it as ancient. "Light be the turf," he says, "on the breast of the heaven-inspired poet who composed this glorious fragment! There is more of the fire of native genius in it than half-a-dozen of modern English Bacchanalians." "Apropos, is not the Scotch phrase Auld Lang syne exceedingly expressive? This old song and tune has often thrilled through my soul." To Thomson he writes thus:- "The air is but mediocre; but the song of itself - the song of the olden times, and which has never been in print, nor even in manuscript, until I took it down from an old man's singing - is enough to recommend any air."
It is right to state that the popular air of Auld Lang Syne is quite different from that referred to by the poet. We are indebted to George Thomson for selecting the fine old air of Can ye labour lea, which, by universal consent, has now become identified with the present song. We may also notice that the present arrangement of the versus, being that of the poet's own MS., seems preferable to that given by Curtis, who makes the second verse the very last in the song, while it has a manifest reference to the earlier stages of the interview between the supposed singers.
Alastair
http://www.electricscotland.com/
Electric Scotland News
I was reading today that Sainsbury, one of the UK's largest supermarket groups, has discovered that many people don't know the words of Auld Lang Syne and many people don't know that Robert Burns wrote it.
On there web site they are offering a download of a pdf file with the words.
That decided me on looking to see what we have on the site to help folk find out about this song and so I now offer you a link to the whole story about the song and you can read it at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...s/langsyne.htm
Videos
As I really took it easy over the Christmas period I decided to do a few videos on YouTube which I have put links to below in the Electric Scotland section.
Remembering folk who passed away in 2017
In particular I'd like to remember...
Ranald McIntyre at: http://www.electricscotland.org/show...anald-McIntyre
He also has a page on our site at: http://www.electricscotland.com/frie...nald/index.htm
John Henderson at: http://www.electricscotland.org/show...home-in-Cyprus
Some of his work can be read at: http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/doggerels.htm
He also created our page on Scottish Songs where you can listen to and read the words of 130 of these popular songs. These are available at: http://www.electricscotland.com/poet...son/singalong/
Scottish News from this weeks newspapers
Note that this is a selection and more can be read in our ScotNews feed on our index page where we list news from the past 1-2 weeks. I am partly doing this to build an archive of modern news from and about Scotland as all the newsletters are archived and also indexed on Google and other search engines. I might also add that in newspapers such as the Guardian, Scotsman, Courier, etc. you will find many comments which can be just as interesting as the news story itself and of course you can also add your own comments if you wish.
Meet the donkey who thinks he is the family dog
A little donkey has become a pet to a farming family who brought him indoors to save his life.
Read more at:
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-...ntral-42440616
Little Red white and blue riding hood
A topical Christmas story
Read more at:
http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2017/12...ristmas-story/
Inside one of Scotland’s greatest photo albums
An unique archive of nearly 50,000 photographs gives a remarkable pictorial history of the Highlands over more than 125 years.
Read more at:
https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/i...bums-1-4643111
The lost and sometimes madcap customs of a Scottish Hogmanay
From holly whipping to lucky cheese and a strange procession led by a man covered in cow hide, Hogmanay celebrations in Scotland have long been madcap affairs.
Read more at:
https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/t...anay-1-4645901
India to leapfrog UK and France in 2018
India looks set to leapfrog Britain and France next year to become the world’s fifth-largest economy in dollar terms, a report showed on Tuesday.
Read more at:
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-gl...-idUKKBN1EK00F
The country that brought its elephants back from the brink
Prince Harry is the new president of a conservation group called African Parks, which takes over national parks and gives rangers military-style training to take on poachers and protect wildlife.
Read more at:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-42367560
Auld Lang Syne could be lost as only 3 per cent know the words
The future of Auld Lang Syne as the centrepiece of New Year celebrations around the world has been thrown into doubt after a new study showed just 3 per cent of people in the UK know the words.
Read more at:
https://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/aul...ords-1-4648493
Electric Canadian
Industrial Canada
Added volume 13 which you can read at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/tran...rial/index.htm
First Report of the Bureau of Archives for the Province of Ontario
By Alexander Fraser (1903)
You can read this at: http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...rio/bureau.htm
The Times of Old, and their Happy Memories
A Discourse in two parts Preached in St. Andrew's Church, Toronto on the Occasion of The Tricentenary of the Scottish Reformation by John Marclay, D.D. (1861) (pdf)
You can read this at: http://www.electriccanadian.com/Religion/timesofold.pdf
Electric Scotland
Beth's Newfangled Family Tree
Added the January section 1 for 2018 which you can read at: http://www.electricscotland.com/bnft/index.htm
Midshipman's Diary
A few notes extracted from the Cockpit Journal of a Man-Of-War (1862)
You can read this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...psmandiary.pdf
Elsie Dinsmore
A story By Martha Findley from the 1800's. This is the original book but there are also many follow up books which we've added another four to the site. See this under our Scottish Fairy Tales page under the final section Children's Stories.
You can read these at: http://www.electricscotland.com/kids/stories/index.htm
Clan Buchanan
Got in their January 2018 newsletter which you can read at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...anan/index.htm
Health and Education
I did a video to talk about health and education as I intend to do some research on this in 2018.
You can watch it at: http://www.electricscotland.org/show...-and-Education
General thoughts at the end of 2017
Did a video about my thoughts at the end of 2017 about education, Brexit and Scottish Independence.
You can watch it at:
http://www.electricscotland.org/show...he-end-of-2017
Wishing you a Merry Christmas
Did a wee video to wish you a Merry Christmas
You can view this at:
Auld Lang Syne
Article by Peter Wright
Burns' name is not affixed to this world-famous song, and yet there can be no doubt it is chiefly his own. He admitted to Johnson that the two verses beginning respectively, "We tae hae ran about the braes," and "We twa hae paidl'd in the burn," are his own, although in sending the song to Mrs. Dunlop in December, 1788, and also is writing about it to Thomson, in September, 1793, he speaks of it as ancient. "Light be the turf," he says, "on the breast of the heaven-inspired poet who composed this glorious fragment! There is more of the fire of native genius in it than half-a-dozen of modern English Bacchanalians." "Apropos, is not the Scotch phrase Auld Lang syne exceedingly expressive? This old song and tune has often thrilled through my soul." To Thomson he writes thus:- "The air is but mediocre; but the song of itself - the song of the olden times, and which has never been in print, nor even in manuscript, until I took it down from an old man's singing - is enough to recommend any air."
It is right to state that the popular air of Auld Lang Syne is quite different from that referred to by the poet. We are indebted to George Thomson for selecting the fine old air of Can ye labour lea, which, by universal consent, has now become identified with the present song. We may also notice that the present arrangement of the versus, being that of the poet's own MS., seems preferable to that given by Curtis, who makes the second verse the very last in the song, while it has a manifest reference to the earlier stages of the interview between the supposed singers.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?
Chorus
For auld lang syne, my jo,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
And surely ye'll be your pint-stoup,
And surely I'll be mine;
And we'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
For auld, etc.
And surely I'll be mine;
And we'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
For auld, etc.
We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou'd the gowans fine;
But we've wander'd mony a weary fit,
Sin' auld lang syne.
For auld, etc.
And pou'd the gowans fine;
But we've wander'd mony a weary fit,
Sin' auld lang syne.
For auld, etc.
We twa hae paidl'd in the burn,
Frae morning sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar'd.
Sin' auld lang syne.
For auld, etc.
Frae morning sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar'd.
Sin' auld lang syne.
For auld, etc.
And there's a hand, my trusty fiere!
And gie's a hand o' thine!
And we'll tak' a right gud-wellie waught,
For auld lang syne.
For auld, etc.
And gie's a hand o' thine!
And we'll tak' a right gud-wellie waught,
For auld lang syne.
For auld, etc.
A translation from the Scots Independent
auld;old lang;long syne;since
auld lang syne ; days of long ago
pint stowp ; tankard
pou'd ; pulled
gowans ; daisies
mony ; many
fitt ; foot
paidl'd ; waded
dine; dinner-time
braid ; broad
fiere ; friend
willie-waught ; draught
owresettin
Should old friendship be forgot'
And never remembered ?
Should old friendship be forgotten,
And days of long ago.
And surely you will have your tankard !
And surely I will have mine !
And we will take a cup of kindness yet,
For days of long ago'
We two have run about the hills
And pulled the daisies fine :
But we have wandered many a weary foot
Since days of long ago.
We two have waded in the stream
From dawn till dinner-time :
But seas between us broad have roared
Since days of long ago.
And there's a hand my trusty friend !
And give me a hand of thine !
And we will take a large draught
For days of long ago.
And that's it for this week and year and I hope you all have a grand New Year in 2018.auld lang syne ; days of long ago
pint stowp ; tankard
pou'd ; pulled
gowans ; daisies
mony ; many
fitt ; foot
paidl'd ; waded
dine; dinner-time
braid ; broad
fiere ; friend
willie-waught ; draught
owresettin
Should old friendship be forgot'
And never remembered ?
Should old friendship be forgotten,
And days of long ago.
And surely you will have your tankard !
And surely I will have mine !
And we will take a cup of kindness yet,
For days of long ago'
We two have run about the hills
And pulled the daisies fine :
But we have wandered many a weary foot
Since days of long ago.
We two have waded in the stream
From dawn till dinner-time :
But seas between us broad have roared
Since days of long ago.
And there's a hand my trusty friend !
And give me a hand of thine !
And we will take a large draught
For days of long ago.
Alastair