Zevon Song of the Week #33
haro...@yahoo.ca
Category: Cover
Auld Lang Syne is a poem by Scotsman Robert Burns, and is sung at
midnight on New Year's Eve by millions of people around the world. A
few are actually sober when they sing it.
I've sung it myself once or twice at various gatherings, and like just
about everyone there, I had no idea what the hell the words meant.
I know that the phrase means "days gone by", but all that "auld
acquaintance" and "cup of kindness" stuff goes right over my head (as
does most poetry).
There are many verses in the poem, but usually only the first verse and
chorus are ever sung.
For years, I've had a copy on my hard drive of Warren doing the song in
concert, although I've forgotten from where I obtained it. As with
almost every Zevon performance, it's both musical and involving.
There's some nice electric guitar in the song, but I don't know if it's
Warren or someone else playing it.
After the last chords have faded out and the applause has died down,
there's a very Zevonian touch. Warren shouts out "OK, now it's time for
some rock and roll!" I would love to have attended that particular New
Year's Eve bash.
One individual on the Springsteen newsgroup thought she could hear
Warren playing some chords from Auld Lang Syne after the saxophone solo
in Please Stay (http://snipurl.com/168rz). I don't hear it myself. But
the poster had some wonderful things to say:
"I was listening to this (The Wind) again today, and noticed something
in the song "Please Stay". Right after the sax solo, if you listen to
the background piano, you can hear him playing "Auld Lang Syne",
incorporating it into the song. It was subtle, beautiful,
heartbreaking, and classic Zevon. Give it
another listen."
Subtle, beautiful, and heartbreaking. We could apply those adjectives
to quite a few Zevon songs, couldn't we?
>From a former a.m.z. member comes this suggestion
(http://snipurl.com/168s8):
"To hell with Auld Lang Syne and other dinosaur songs. At midnight all
true Zevonistas sing "Don't Let Us Get Sick," a time-honored tradition
that goes back to at least 2000. Real Zevonistas should know this, but
of course we got a lot of new people in the club this year, so thought
I should bring it up. I've already heard from the Zevon Fan Recording
Emperor of the Universe, Pete H in Australia, that the fine tradition
has already been performed this year "down under." Well done and good
on ya, Brother Pete! :)"
Tonight we'll be at my high school friend's house in Deep Cove, and as
usual it will be Auld Lang Syne at midnight. But I may hum a few bars
of DLUGS. I don't care whether or not I'm either a true or real
Zevonista, but I agree it makes a damn good New Year's anthem.
After a beer or three, should all the lyrics be forgot, you can always
hum a few bars.
Happy new year! Don't drink and drive.
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Joanne Corsano
on New Year's Eve and heard this song performed twice by different
musical acts. One of the musical acts was a Scotsman named Angus
MacPherson. Actually, it's a guy named Lee-something impersonating a
Scotsman, and doing a bonnie job of it. He was dressed the part, for
sure.
He sang largely different lyrics and an entirely different melody for
"Auld Lang Syne," using the Scottish term "jo" in the song (short for
Joanne, no I'm kidding, it's a Scottish term for "sweetheart," which
any Scrabble players among you know). He said the words and music he
used were close to the original as written by Robert Burns, and I'm
fairly sure he knew what he was talking about.
So, Warren was doing the bastardized version. :)
Happy New Year to all, a few days late.
Joanne
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haro...@yahoo.ca
12/31/1987 show in Chicago, track 3 on the first disc.
When it's done, he and the band launch into a rousing Sentimental
Hygiene, a good anthem for a brand new year.
I heard ALS played on bagpipes this past weekend, so I'm with you
Joanne.