2012 will come to an end this evening.

2013 has already dawned on my young family in Thailand.

Seven hours remain in 2012 at the Fort Greene Observatory. Darkness lay heavy over the borough of Brooklyn and a bottle of Riesling stands on my desk as my passport to the new year. Tonight I will celebrate the final moments of the year with my friends at Frank’s Lounge. It should be a festive occasion and I doubt that we shall sing AULD LANG SYNE at tock of midnight.

Robert Burns wrote the Scottish lyrics in 1788, although the song dated back into times unknown as a traditional folk song according to Wikipedia.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
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.
And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp!
and surely I’ll be mine!
And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We twa hae run about the braes,
and pu’d the gowans fine ;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit,
sin auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We twa hae paidl’d i’ the burn,
frae morning sun till dine ;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
sin auld lang syne.
CHORUS
And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere !
and gie’s a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll tak a right gude-willy waught,
for auld lang syne.
CHORUS

James Steele’s version is more cheerful;

Old acquaintances are not forgotten,
and will always be brought to mind?
We should always speak of gone,
For without them there is no Auld Lang Syne.
CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my Comrades,
For auld lang syne indeed,
A shot of tequila and a beer chaser
For Auld Lang Syne, my Comrades.
And another for the new year.
It’s good for you and all of us.
And one more before we go insane
For Auld Lang Syne, Comrades.