The song is "Old Lang Syne"

The Lyrics:
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never bought to mind
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And (days of) auld lang syne

Chorus
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We'll take a cup o' 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 of kindness yet
For (days of) 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 (days of) auld lang syne

Chorus:
We two have paddled in the stream
From morning till sun dine
But seas between us broad have roared
Since (days of) auld lang syne

Chorus:
And there's a hand my trusty friend
Give us a hand o' thine
And we'll take a right good-will draught
For (days of) auld lang syne.

The History:

Auld Lang Syne has been sung by millions of people and most of them do not know what they are saying and those that do know what they are saying may not know what those words mean.

Auld Lang Syne, is a Scottish poem that is said to be written by a Scottish song writer and poet, by the name of Mr. Robert Burns more than 220 years ago, in 1788.

When the words 'auld lang syne' are translated, they mean 'long time since, or long, long ago, days gone by, a long time ago...

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This is the original Scottish version:

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never bought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and (days of) auld lang syne?

Chorus:
For auld lang syne, my jo
for auld lang syne
we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet
for (days of) auld lang syne

And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp
and surely I'll be mine
and we'' take a cup o' kindness yet
for (days of) auld lang syne

Chorus:
We twa hae run about the braes
and pu'd the gowand fine
But we've wander'd mony a weary foot
sin (days of) 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 (days of) 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 (days of) auld lang syne

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The song 'Same Old Lang Syne" by Dan Folgerburgh is absolutely beautiful. I have alway wondered who he was speaking about. I love this song. I can 'see' the snow and the story as it unfolds.

Looks like you already received some excellent responses to the Lyrics and History of the New Years Eve song so perhaps I can post a few audio samples of the song for you here.

AULD LANG SYNE LYRICS
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind..?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne...
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne...

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind..?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne...

And here's a hand,
my trusty friend,
And give a hand o' thine.
We'll drink a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne...

PLAY LANG SYNE SONGS (posted below)

The lyrics for the song, Auld Lang Syne, are usually attributed to the Scottish Poet Robert Burns. But by Burns own admission, he "collected" many of the lyrics from an elderly Scottish gentleman and then embellished them. About 70 years before Burns' rendition, James Watson wrote down and translated the lyrics from an eerily similar Scottish song. It was a song of lost love which commemorated beginnings and ends:

Old Long Syne (Old long since - once upon a time)

Should Old Acquaintance be forgot,
and never thought upon;
The flames of Love extinguished,
and fully past and gone:
Is thy sweet Heart now grown so cold,
that loving Breast of thine;
That thou canst never once reflect
on Old long syne.

CHORUS:
On Old long syne my Jo,
in Old long syne,
That thou canst never once reflect,
on Old long syne.

My Heart is ravisht with delight,
when thee I think upon;
All Grief and Sorrow takes the flight,
and speedily is gone;
The bright resemblance of thy Face,
so fills this, Heart of mine;
That Force nor Fate can me displease,
for Old long syne.

CHORUS:

Since thoughts of thee doth banish grief,
when from thee I am gone;
will not thy presence yield relief,
to this sad Heart of mine:
Why doth thy presence me defeat,
with excellence divine?
Especially when I reflect
on Old long syne

CHORUS:

I personally like this version much better.

The tune was developed from traditional Scot dances and rhythms.

Raises a glass of cheer to all - Old Long Syne!