Same Old Lang Syne • Dan Fogelberg

Song of the Day: Same Old Lang Syne, by Dan Fogelberg.

Same Old Lang Syne is a song written and sung by Dan Fogelberg released as a single in 1980. It was also included on his 1981 album The Innocent Age. It is an autobiographical narrative ballad told in the first person and tells the story of two long-ago romantic interests meeting by chance in a grocery store on Christmas Eve. During the Christmas season of 1980, the song peaked at # 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and is now frequently played each year alongside other traditional Christmas songs. It is commonly played on radio stations during the Christmas season in Canada and the United States.

The narrator is reunited with an old flame at a grocery store on a snowy Christmas Eve. She does not recognize him at first glance and when the two reach to embrace, she drops her purse causing them to laugh until they cry. They eventually decide to have a drink somewhere, but are unable to find an open bar. Settling on a six-pack purchased at a liquor store, they proceed to drink it in her car while they talk.

The pair toast innocence of the past as well as the present. The subsequent verse describes the two pushing through their initial awkwardness and discussing their current lives. The lover went on to marry an architect and is seemingly content with her life, though she married for security instead of love. The narrator then says that as a musician he loves performing but hates touring.

After consuming all of the beer, they exchange their goodbyes and the woman kisses him before he gets out of the car and she drives away. He flashes back to school and the pain of their previous breakup; as he turns toward home, the falling snow turns into rain.

The melody is based on the 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky and ends with a soprano saxophone solo by Michael Brecker based on the melody from the original Auld Lang Syne.

As we explained in yesterday’s entry, the phrase 'auld lang syne' roughly translates as 'for old times' sake', and the song is all about preserving old friendships, looking back over the events of the year, evoking a sense of belonging and fellowship, tinged with nostalgia, thoughts of mistakes we made, our regrets, and hope for the future.  

Though there may be less celebration gatherings this year on New Years Eve, since 2021, like 2020, does nothing traditional, maybe we can still be in touch virtually or by phone with those we care about. I hope your looking back this year will be balanced with some looking ahead and filled with a good deal of hope for the future. 

 Happy New Year everyone. 🎆

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Now, Dan Fogelberg on Spotify:

Same Old Lang Syne

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Here is my personal playlist on Spotify for New Years 2020/2021. Hope you like it...

New Years Eve 2020/2021 Playlist 

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Here is a live performance of Same Old Lang Syne performed by Dan Fogelberg:

Full Lyrics 

Same Old Lang Syne

Dan Fogelberg

Met my old lover in the grocery store

The snow was falling Christmas Eve

I stole behind her in the frozen foods

And I touched her on the sleeve

She didn't recognize the face at first

But then her eyes flew open wide

She went to hug me and she spilled her purse

And we laughed until we cried

We took her groceries to the checkout stand

The food was totaled up and bagged

We stood there lost in our embarrassment

As the conversation dragged

Went to have ourselves a drink or two

But couldn't find an open bar

We bought a six-pack at the liquor store

And we drank it in her car

We drank a toast to innocence

We drank a toast to now

And tried to reach beyond the emptiness

But neither one knew how

She said she'd married her an architect

Who kept her warm and safe and dry

She would have liked to say she loved the man

But she didn't like to lie

I said the years had been a friend to her

And that her eyes were still as blue

But in those eyes I wasn't sure if I

Saw doubt or gratitude

She said she saw me in the record stores

And that I must be doing well

I said the audience was heavenly

But the traveling was hell

We drank a toast to innocence

We drank a toast to now

And tried to reach beyond the emptiness

But neither one knew how

We drank a toast to innocence

We drank a toast to time

Reliving in our eloquence

Another 'auld lang syne'

The beer was empty and our tongues were tired

And running out of things to say

She gave a kiss to me as I got out

And I watched her drive away

Just for a moment I was back at school

And felt that old familiar pain

And as I turned to make my way back home

The snow turned into rain

Same Old Lang Syne