Robert Burns, one of the world's best known poets, and the national poet of Scotland, was born on 25 January 1759 at Alloway, close to the town of Ayr, SW Scotland. He was the eldest of the seven children.

As well as his own writings, Burns also collected folk songs from across Scotland. His poem (and song) "Auld Lang Syne" is often sung at Hogmanay (the last day of the year), and "Scots Wha Hae" served for a long time as an unofficial national anthem of the country. Other poems and songs of Burns include "A Red, Red Rose", "A Man's a Man for A' That", and "Tam o' Shanter".

Burns grew up on a farm in poverty and hardship, and his only schooling was from his father. Burns was then sent to Dalrymple Parish School and later tutored.

The family moved to Tarbolton. Burns was already writing poems and songs and became romantically involved with a number of women. He married Jean Armour and had nine children, only three of whom survived infancy.

It was then suggested to Burns that he should go to Jamaica as a bookkeeper on a slave plantation. Later he was to write "The Slave's Lament". Then Burns fell in love with Mary Campbell.

Because Burns lacked the funds to pay for his passage to the West Indies, it was suggested to him that he should publish his poems by subscription, as a way of getting money.

On 31 July 1786 the poems were published; it was immediately successful and soon he was known across the country.

On 27 November 1786 Burns borrowed a pony and set out for Edinburgh. A new edition of his poems published there brought Burns £400. In early 1787, he met James Johnson, a music engraver and music seller and from then on Burns contributed many songs.

He then returned to Dumfriesshire and took a lease on a farm. Eventually he gave this up and went to Dumfries, and here he wrote some of his most famous songs.

Many of Burns's most famous poems are songs with the music based upon older traditional songs, such as, "Auld Lang Syne".

By 1795 he was becoming ill, and he died on the morning of 21 July 1796, Burns died in Dumfries, at the age of 37.

This is Burns original version of his famous song:

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-stoup!
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 pou'd the gowans fine;
But we've wander'd mony a weary fit,
sin' auld lang syne.
CHORUS
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.
CHORUS
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.
CHORUS


This is the English equivalent:

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne?
CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of 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 o' kindness yet,
for 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 auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine†;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.
CHORUS
And there’s a hand my trusty friend!
And give me a hand o' thine!
And we'll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.
CHORUS


syne means since, or then.