Main content

Auld Lang Syne

Stories of love, loss and joy associated with Auld Lang Syne and the origins of the famous Robert Burns ballad. From 2016.

It's gone from being an 18th century song about impotence to one of the best known songs all over the world.

Most of us have sung Auld Lang Syne at some point in our lives on New Year's Eve, but how many of us know more than a few of the words and anything of its origin and meaning?

Soul Music hears the stories behind the song, how it went from being a reflective melancholic Scottish air about the parting of the ways, to the jaunty tune we know today.

There are also stories of love, sorrow, hope and joy, emotions that are especially heightened at this time of year.

Series about pieces of music with a powerful emotional impact.

Producer: Maggie Ayre

First broadcast on 麻豆社 Radio 4 in December 2016.

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Fri 30 Dec 2022 20:30
麻豆社 Radio 4 Extra

More episodes

Next

Lean On Me by Bill Withers

See all episodes from Soul Music

Clip

Broadcasts

  • Tue 27 Dec 2016 11:30
    麻豆社 Radio 4
  • Sat 31 Dec 2016 15:30
    麻豆社 Radio 4
  • Fri 29 Dec 2017 18:30
    麻豆社 Radio 4 Extra
  • Sat 30 Dec 2017 00:30
    麻豆社 Radio 4 Extra
  • Tue 31 Dec 2019 16:00
    麻豆社 Radio 4
  • Fri 30 Dec 2022 20:30
    麻豆社 Radio 4 Extra

Featured in...

Why Sam Cooke's 'A Change Is Gonna Come' became a Civil Rights anthem

Why Sam Cooke's 'A Change Is Gonna Come' became a Civil Rights anthem

Watch the animation - Professor Mary King describes how the song became a symbol of hope.

Podcast

  • Soul Music

    Series about pieces of music with a powerful emotional impact