Barbra Streisand (born Barbara Joan Streisand; April 24, 1942 Brooklyn, Ne… Read Full Bio ↴Barbra Streisand (born Barbara Joan Streisand; April 24, 1942 Brooklyn, New York), is an Academy Award-winning American singer, theater and film actress, composer, film producer, and director. She has won Oscars for Best Actress and Best Original Song as well as multiple Emmy Awards, Grammy Awards, Golden Globe Awards and an honorary Tony Award. She received the prestigious Kennedy Center Honor on December 7, 2008. She is the most successful female recording artist according to the Recording Industry Assoc. of America (RIAA).

Barbra Streisand has recorded more than 60 albums, almost all with Columbia Records. Her early works in the 1960s (her debut The Barbra Streisand Album which won two Grammy Awards in 1963, followed by The Second Barbra Streisand Album, The Third Album, My Name Is Barbra, etc.) are considered classic renditions of theater and nightclub standards, including her version of Happy Days Are Here Again. Beginning with My Name Is Barbra, her albums were often medley-filled keepsakes of her television specials.

Starting in 1969, Streisand tackled contemporary songwriters; like many talented singers of the day, she found herself a fish out of water in attempts to tackle rock, but her vocal talents prevailed and she gained newfound success with the pop and ballad-oriented Richard Perry-produced album Stoney End in 1971. The title track, written by Laura Nyro, was a big hit for Streisand.

Streisand's 1980 album, Guilty featured the songwriting, production and vocal talents of Barry Gibb and was the best-selling album of her recording career. During the 1970s, she was also highly prominent in the pop charts, with number-one records like The Way We Were, Evergreen, No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) (her duet with Donna Summer), and Woman In Love; some of these came from soundtracks of her films. She recently took part in supporting Haiti in singing "We are the World 25th anniversary.

When the 1970s ended, Streisand was named the most successful female singer in the U.S. - only Elvis Presley and The Beatles having sold more albums. [1]

[1] In 1982, New York Times music critic Stephen Holden wrote that Streisand was "the most influential mainstream American pop singer since Frank Sinatra."

Auld Lang Syne
Barbra Streisand Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And auld lang syne

For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet

For auld lang syne

And surely ye'll be your pint stowp
And surely I'll be mine
And we'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne

For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne

We twa hae run about the braes
An pou'd the gowans fine
But we've wander'd mony a weary fitt
Sin' auld lang syne

For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Barbra Streisand's song "Auld Lang Syne" are a reflection on the importance of remembering old relationships and the memories shared together. The song asks, "Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?" but then answers that question with an emphatic "no" in the chorus, "For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we'll take a cup o' kindness yet for auld lang syne." The phrase "auld lang syne" comes from a Scottish poem by Robert Burns, which is commonly sung on New Year's Eve and means "old times' sake."

The song continues with a verse about toasting to old friends and shared memories, "And surely ye'll be your pint stowp, and surely I'll be mine, and we'll take a cup o' kindness yet for auld lang syne." The next verse remembers the happy times shared together, "We twa hae run about the braes and pou'd the gowans fine, but we've wander'd mony a weary fitt sin' auld lang syne." The final verse reminisces about playing in the stream and enjoying the sun together, "We twa hae paidl'd in the burn frae morning sun till dine."

Overall, the lyrics of "Auld Lang Syne" celebrate the importance of appreciating old relationships and shared memories, and valuing them for the kindness and joy they brought to our lives.

Line by Line Meaning

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
Should we forget about old friends?

And never brought to mind?
Not think of them anymore?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
Should we really forget about them?

And auld lang syne
And the memories of good times past

For auld lang syne, my dear
For the sake of those memories, my friend

For auld lang syne
For the sake of old times

We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
We will be kind to each other, nonetheless

For auld lang syne
For the sake of those good times

And surely ye'll be your pint stowp
And surely you'll have your own drink

And surely I'll be mine
And I'll have mine

And we'll take a cup o' kindness yet
And we will still be kind to each other