Episode Overview

Podcast: Twenty Thousand Hertz
Episode: "Auld Lang What? The Surprising Origins of the New Year’s Song"
Host: Dallas Taylor (with Lizzie Peabody, guest segment from the Smithsonian's Side Door podcast, and guest Jim Deutsch)
Release Date: December 31, 2025

This episode delves into the origins, meaning, and enduring cultural significance of “Auld Lang Syne,” the song synonymous with New Year’s celebrations across the English-speaking world. Through conversation with folklorist Jim Deutsch and Side Door host Lizzie Peabody, listeners discover how this Scottish folk tune became an international symbol of transition, nostalgia, and togetherness.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Mystery of Tradition and Song Meaning

• The Perennial New Year’s Question: The episode opens by highlighting traditions we often follow without questioning, focusing on the ritualistic singing of “Auld Lang Syne” at midnight on New Year’s Eve.
• Lyrical Confusion: The hosts discuss the widespread confusion about the song’s actual meaning—citing its pivotal role in the 1989 movie When Harry Met Sally and reflecting the reality that many people do not know the words or their significance.
  • Quote (Lizzie Peabody, 04:27): “Does that mean that we should forget old acquaintances? Does it mean that if we happen to forget them, we should remember them?”
• Literal Translation: Jim Deutsch clarifies that “Auld Lang Syne” literally means “old long since” (05:15).

2. Scottish Roots and Robert Burns’ Influence

• Scottish Origins: The song is centuries old, with its earliest roots in Scotland. Poet Robert Burns wrote down the lyrics in 1788 as part of his effort to document Scottish traditions.
  • Quote (Lizzie Peabody, 05:36): “Auld Lang Syne is one of those so old songs that nobody can say for sure exactly when it dates to. But we do know it comes from Scotland.”

3. The Song’s Journey to New Year’s and American Pop Culture

• Historical References: Jim Deutsch shares old newspaper excerpts tracking the song’s association with New Year’s, citing The Scotsman (1890) and The New York Times (1895), which listed Auld Lang Syne among other tunes played at midnight, but not yet as the New Year’s anthem (06:51).
  • Quote (Jim Deutsch, 07:29): “It was one of many songs that were chimed on New Year’s Eve at the stroke of midnight, but it wasn’t the one song.”
• Guy Lombardo’s Influence: The popular explanation credits Canadian bandleader Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians for cementing Auld Lang Syne as the song for New Year’s Eve, starting with their yearly performances at Manhattan’s Roosevelt Grill in 1929, which were broadcast nationwide.
  • Quote (Jim Deutsch, 09:00): “A Canadian living in the United States and being on American radio and then transitioning from American television and watched by millions of people at the stroke of midnight.”

4. An Alternate (and Earlier) Theory: Chaplin’s “The Gold Rush”

• Chaplin’s Silent Film: Deutsch proposes an earlier pop culture moment that predated Lombardo—Charlie Chaplin’s 1925 film The Gold Rush. The film features a poignant New Year's Eve scene involving “Auld Lang Syne,” possibly shaping American sentiment and tradition.
  • Quote (Jim Deutsch, 09:30): “Because four years before Guy Lombardo…Charlie Chaplin released a film called the Gold Rush, which has a remarkable scene set on New Year’s Eve.”
• Emotional Resonance of the Scene: The episode describes how the song underscores Chaplin’s lonely, yearning character while others celebrate arm-in-arm.
  • Quote (Jim Deutsch, 18:33): “Cut back to the cabin…The lone prospector waking up and goes to the door…He looks heartbroken.”
  • Quote (Lizzie Peabody, 19:17): “Oh, his body language. He’s just punched. He’s so dejected.”

5. Why “Auld Lang Syne” Endures

• Emotional Universality: The song’s profound sense of nostalgia and bittersweet reflection makes it especially apt for transitional moments—like the year’s end.
  • Quote (Jim Deutsch, 21:07): “I don’t think it’s the words that are so important as the emotions that are inherent.”
• Communal Experience: Singing "Auld Lang Syne" is rarely a solo activity; instead, it brings people together, enhancing feelings of community.
  • Quote (Jim Deutsch, 22:11): “I think it’s more common to sing it in unison...an absolute community of people who are connected.”
• Janus and New Beginnings: The hosts link the song’s themes to the symbolism of January—named after Janus, the Roman god with two faces looking to the past and the future.
  • Quote (Jim Deutsch, 24:17): “...the first month of the new year is January, which is named for the Roman God Janus, who was two faced—one direction looking back and one direction looking forward.”

6. A Melancholy Yet Joyful Tradition

• Melancholy and Hope: The episode closes by highlighting the balance of wistfulness, nostalgia, and hope found in the song.

  • Quote (Jim Deutsch, 23:04): “The sense of wistfulness, nostalgia. But also, as we’re saying, you know, looking back at the year that has just passed, but looking forward with some optimism and hope for the future.”

• Closing with Music: Listeners are treated to a 1970s bluegrass banjo rendition from the Smithsonian Folkways catalogue, emblematic of the song’s ability to move, comfort, and unite.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• About the song’s ambiguous meaning:

  • “Does that mean that we should forget old acquaintances? Does it mean that if we happen to forget them, we should remember them?”
    (Lizzie Peabody, 04:27)

• Defining the title:

  • “Literally, old long since.”
    (Jim Deutsch, 05:15)

• On the New Year’s Eve tradition:

  • “It was one of many songs that were chimed on New Year’s Eve at the stroke of midnight, but it wasn’t the one song.”
    (Jim Deutsch, 07:29)

• Guy Lombardo’s role:

  • “A Canadian living in the United States and being on American radio and then transitioning from American television and watched by millions of people at the stroke of midnight.” (Jim Deutsch, 09:00)

• Chaplin’s poignant film moment:

  • “Cut back to the cabin…The lone prospector waking up and goes to the door…He looks heartbroken.”
    (Jim Deutsch, 18:33)
  • “Oh, his body language. He’s just punched. He’s so dejected.”
    (Lizzie Peabody, 19:17)

• Why the song lasts:

  • “I don’t think it’s the words that are so important as the emotions that are inherent.” (Jim Deutsch, 21:07)

• On singing together:

  • “I think it’s more common to sing it in unison…an absolute community of people who are connected.” (Jim Deutsch, 22:11)

• On January as a symbol:

  • “...the first month of the new year is January, which is named for the Roman God Janus, who was two faced—one direction looking back and one direction looking forward.” (Jim Deutsch, 24:17)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 03:26 – The annual tradition and confusion around the song
• 05:15 – Literal translation of “Auld Lang Syne”
• 06:11 – 07:29 – Historical mentions of the song & early American traditions
• 07:51 – 09:00 – Guy Lombardo and the cementing of the tradition
• 09:30 – 13:07 – Introduction and analysis of Chaplin’s The Gold Rush as a cultural milestone
• 17:26 – 20:51 – Detailed breakdown of the film’s New Year’s scene and its emotional impact
• 21:07 – 24:17 – The song’s emotional power and communal nature; tying the tradition to broader themes of nostalgia and hope

Tone and Language

The conversation is warm, inquisitive, and slightly wistful—mirroring the subject matter of the song itself. Both hosts and guests speak with clear affection for the tradition and curiosity for the song’s mysterious history. The segment is full of gentle humor, personal reflections, and a deep sense of reverence for how sound and tradition shape memories.

Conclusion

If you’ve ever wondered why we sing “Auld Lang Syne” each New Year’s—even if you’re unsure what it means—this episode offers a fascinating look at the song's journey from Scottish clubs to American midnight gatherings. It's as much about the emotions of connecting, remembering, and hoping as it is about any single lyric or melody. The episode closes with a celebration of the song’s enduring spirit and an encouragement to embrace both its melancholy and joy as we step into another year.