There are five extant manuscript versions of 'Auld Lang Syne' written by Burns

1. The version in a letter sent to Frances Dunlop, 17 December 1788.
An account by Mrs Dunlop in a letter sent to Burns, 26 November 1788, of her meeting of an old school friend after a period of some forty-five years provides the context, and perhaps the inspiration, for the first version of Auld Lang Syne in Burns’s hand.
2. A version written by Burns in 1788 into a copy of vol 1 of The Scots Musical Museum (known as the Interleaved Scots Musical Museum).
3. The version published in vol 5 of The Scots Musical Museum, 1796.
4. The version sent to George Thomson, September 1793
5. What may have been a “working version”, now held in the Burns Cottage
Museum in Alloway


Version 1

On 26 November 1788, Mrs Frances Anna Dunlop in a letter sent to Burns wrote an account of her meeting of an old school friend after a period of some forty-five years.
On 17th December 1788, Burns replied in a letter to Mrs Dunlop: 'Your meeting which you so well describe with your old schoolfellow and friend was truly interesting. Out upon the ways of the world! They spoil these 'social offsprings of the hear'. Two veterans of the 'men of the world' would have met with little more heart-workings than two old hacks worn out on the road. Apropos, is not the Scotch phrase Auld lang syne exceedingly expressive? There is an old song and tune which has often thrilled through my soul. You know I am an enthusiast in old Scotch songs. I shall give you the verses on the other sheet'

The song 'on the other sheet' was Burns's first version of 'Auld Lang Syne'.
And his comment: 'Light be the turf 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 in half a dozen of modern English Bacchanalians.'

First page of Burns' original version sent to Mrs Dunlop 17 Dec 1788
Version 1 Auld Lang Syne letter to Mrs Dunlop page 1

Second page of Burns' original version sent to Mrs Dunlop 17 Dec 1788
Version 1 Auld Lang Syne letter to Mrs Dunlop page 2


Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never thought upon?
Let’s hae a waught o’ Malaga,
For auld lang syne.—

Chorus
For auld lang syne, my jo,
For auld lang syne;
Let’s hae a waught o’ Malaga,
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 &c.

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou’t the gowans fine;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary foot
Sin auld lang syne.—
For auld &c.

We twa hae paidl’t i’ the burn
Frae morning sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d,
Sin auld lang syne.—
For auld &c.

And there’s a han’, my trusty fiere,
And gie’s a han’ o’ thine!
And we’ll tak a right gudewilly waught,
For auld lang syne!—


Version 2

With slight changes, Burns sent a copy of the original song into volume 1 of the Interleaved Scots Musical Museum in 1788. Burns' copy is interleaved next to Allan Ramsay's 1719 very different version of Auld Lang Syne.
Burns introduces his version as a comment to Ramsay’s version, noting "The original & by much the best set of the words of this song is as follows"
Version 2 Auld Lang Syne interleaved in Museum 1, 1788

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days o’ lang syne?

Chorus
And 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.
And for, &c.

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pu’d the gowans fine;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary foot
Sin auld lang syne.
And for, &c.

We twa hae paidl’d i’ the burn,
Frae mornin’ sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d,
Sin auld lang syne.
And for, &c.

And there’s a hand my trusty fiere!
And gies a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll tak a right gude-willy waught
For auld lang syne.
And for, &c.


Version 3

James Johnson delayed publishing it, possibly because the air to which it went had already appeared in volume 1 of the Museum in 1787 with words by Allan Ramsay, beginning: 'Should auld acquaintance be forgot.' But Johnson changed his mind and put the song into the fifth volume of the Museum, which appeared in 1796, about six months after Burns's death; there is evidence in Burns's letters to suggest he had seen in proof stage.

Version 3 Auld Lang Syne Scots Musical Museum Vol 5

"Auld Lang Syne"
The Scots Musical Museum, by James Johnson, Volume 5, 1796, p.426 (No. 413).

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.
For auld &c.

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou’d the gowans fine;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fitt,
Sin auld lang syne.
For auld &c.

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 &c.

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere!
And gie’s a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll tak a right gude-willie-waught,
For auld lang syne.
For auld &c.


Version 4

In September 1793, Burns had sent a slightly revised copy of the words to publisher George Thomson for inclusion in his 1799 publication A Select Collection of Original Scottish Airs, volume 2.
An important change in the text is the substitution of 'my dear' for 'my jo' in the chorus. And what is usually the second stanza, beginning with "And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp", is written as the last stanza.
In the accompanying letter Burns remarked: 'One song more, and I have done, 'Auld lang syne'. The air is but mediocre; but the following song - the old 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.'

First page of Burns' letter to Thomson
Version 4 Auld Lang Syne letter to Thomson 1793 page 1

Second page of Burns' letter to Thomson
Version 4 Auld Lang Syne letter to Thomson 1793 page 2

"Auld Lang Syne"

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintaince be forgot,
And days o’ lang syne?

CHORUS.
For auld lang syne, my Dear,
For auld lang syne,
We”ll tak' a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne—

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pu’t the gowans fine;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary foot,
Sin auld lang syne.—.
For auld &c.

We twa hae paidlet i’ the burn,
Frae mornin sun till dine:
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
Sin auld lang syne.—.
For auld &c.

And there’s a hand, my trusty feire,
And gie’s a hand o’ thine;
And we’ll tak a right gude-willie waught
For auld lang syne.—.
For auld &c.

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.—.
For auld &c.


Version 5

What may have been a “working version”, now held in the Burns Cottage Museum in Alloway. At the top of the page Burns' has written 'A Fragment - auld lang syne' The text does not contain the first verse and chorus, only the last four verses are given. The last verse is partially torn off.
Version 5 Auld Lang Syne a fragment working version

"A Fragment - 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.—

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou’t the gowans fine;
But we’ve wandered mony a weary fitt
Sin auld lang syne.—

We twa hae paidl’t in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine,
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
Sin auld lang syne.—

And there’s a hand, [paper torn]
And gie’s a hand [paper torn]
And we’ll tak a righ [paper torn]
For auld lang [paper torn]