Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians - Auld Lang Syne (1947)

Born Gaetano Alberto Lombardo in Ontario 1902, this Canadian-American was a largely successful bandleader, violinist, and hydroplane speedboat racer. Coming from Italian parents who had moved to Canada, Guy and his brothers had always been singing since a very young age. Guy himself put on his first vocal performance at the age of twelve, and was recording in studios by twenty-one. He formed The Royal Canadians in 1924 with his brothers Carmen, Lebert, Victor, and other friends from his hometown and led them to international success through the late ‘20s and 1930s. At the time of the band’s success, many jazz and big-band purists had found their music to corny. Fortunately for them, the general public loved it.

Lombardo and his band would also go on to be associated with New Year’s Eve, as they played on the radio (and later television) each New Year’s Eve from 1928 until 1976. This song, now associated with the New Year’s Eve celebration and New Year’s Day itself, was popularized by Lombardo and his band when they began playing it each year starting in 1929. This particular version of the song was recorded on September 29, 1947 and was published by Decca Records as a single. Although Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve would eventually become popular with younger viewers, Lombardo’s New Year’s Specials remained popular with older viewers. Traditionally, Lombardo's version of the song is the first song played after the ball has dropped on midnight in Time Square, New York.

Also, see what other New Year's Eve related music we have.



Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians - Auld Lang Syne (1947)

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Lyrics:

Should old acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot
And days of lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We’ll take a cup of kindness yet
For auld lang syne

The G-Clefs - I Understand (Just How You Feel) (1961)

This group, formed in Massachusetts in 1952, consisted of four brothers and one childhood friend. Growing up, the Scott brothers created their own gang, “The Band of Angels,” to guard what police referred to as “Scotty’s Alley”. The group had two moderate successes in the charts: 1956’s “Ka-Ding-Dong” and the song heard below.

This song is an amalgam of the group’s lyrics with the tune of the New Year’s traditional song, “Auld Lang Syne,” which is also sung in the background. “Auld Lang Syne” itself is the combination of a Scottish poem written in 1788 by Robert Burns and a traditional folk song. The phrase “auld lang syne” translates to “long long ago” and “for auld lang syne” therefore indicates “for old time’s sake”.



The G-Clefs - I Understand (Just How You Feel) (1961)

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Lyrics:

I understand just how you feel
(Should old acquaintance be forgot)
Your love for me; why not be mine?
(And never brought to mind?)
It's over now but it was grand
(Should old acquaintance be forgot)
I understand; I understand
(And days of auld lang syne?)

If you ever change your mind
(For auld lang syne, my dear)
Come back to me and you will find
(For auld lang syne)
Me waiting there at your command
(We’ll spill a cup of wine, my dear)
I understand; I understand
(For auld lang syne)

I miss you so
Please believe me when I tell you
I just can't stand to see you go
You know

If you ever change your mind
(Should old acquaintance be forgot)
Come back to me and you will find
(And never brought to mind?)
Me waiting there at your command
(Should old acquaintance be forgot)
I understand; I understand
(And days of auld lang syne)

I understand just how you feel. Let bygones be bygones. But always remember: I love you, I love you, I love you.

(We'll sip a cup of wine, my dear, for Auld Lang Syne)
I understand