"Auld Lang Syne," In All Its Many Colors

No matter where you are when the ball drops Friday night and 2010 becomes 2011, you'll likely be within earshot of "Auld Lang Syne." You may be hammered, too, which would be appropriate - this anthem of remembrance and New Year's Eve is also a drinking song. Exactly what did you think was in that cup of "kindness," anyway?

Like other semi-well-known tunes ("America the Beautiful," for example), "Auld Lang Syne" is a song to which a lot of people know the first verse and the chorus, and not much else. Both the lyrics and music are so old that their exact origins are unknown, but the poem written by Scotsman Robert Burns (left) in 1788 remains the most commonly used set of lyrics today. Judging by these later verses, Bobby fancied himself a wee pint or two:

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.

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.

As for the melody, which is now sung all over the world, it is No. 6294 in British librarian Steve Roud's index of more than 20,000 English-language folk songs, which also includes "Midnight Special" and a whole bunch of songs about Robin Hood. A New Year's Eve tradition in America thanks largely to Guy Lombardo's annual broadcast from the '30s to the '50s, "Auld Lang Syne" has been recorded or performed live by everyone from Bugs Bunny, Jimi Hendrix and Elvis to U2, Prince and Mariah Carey.

Is it the most adaptable tune in history? Perhaps. Rocks Off did some YouTube trolling, and discovered there are many ways to remember old friends...