Same Old Lang Syne

Dan Fogelberg

About Same Old Lang Syne

"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. The song 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. The song peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart and is now frequently played during the holiday season and alongside traditional Christmas songs.  


Year:
1991
6:24
117 
#2

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Met my old lover in the grocery store
The snow was falling Christmas Eve
I stood 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 check out stand
The food was totaled up and bagged
We stood there lost in our embarrassment
As the conversation lagged

We 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
We tried to reach beyond the emptiness
But neither one knew how

She said she's 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
We 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

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Dan Fogelberg

Daniel Grayling "Dan" Fogelberg (August 13, 1951 – December 16, 2007) was an American singer-songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, whose music was inspired by sources as diverse as folk, pop, rock, classical, jazz, and bluegrass. He is best known for his 1980 hit "Longer" and his 1981 hit "Leader of the Band". more »

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Written by: DAN FOGELBERG

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song origin
"Same Old Lang Syne" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter, Dan Fogelberg. The song was released in 1980 and is part of his album "The Innocent Age."
Inspiration
This poignant song was inspired by a real-life encounter Fogelberg had with an old girlfriend, Jill Greulich, at a grocery store on Christmas Eve in his hometown, Peoria, Illinois.
Chart performance
Despite its Christmas themes, "Same Old Lang Syne" was not exclusively a holiday tune. It managed to reach number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1981.
Musicality
The song combines a soft rock ballad style with an extensive use of synthesizers. The melody of the song is based on the folk song, "Auld Lang Syne", a detail evident in its main lines and title.
Credit
The woman who inspired the song was not identified until after Fogelberg's death in 2007. Then, in 2008, Jill Anderson (formerly Greulich) revealed she was the mystery woman referenced in "Same Old Lang Syne."
Reaction
Anderson recounted the encounter with Fogelberg in an interview saying that Fogelberg got the details of their meeting right in the song, except for the color of her eyes.
Sequence in the Album
The touching song occurs as the last tune on side one of "The Innocent Age" album, which is a concept album about youth and sentimentality.
Not a traditional Christmas Song
Despite being set on Christmas Eve, "Same Old Lang Syne" differs from typical holiday songs as it tells a melancholic story of nostalgia and lost love. Despite this, it has become a staple on radio during the holiday season.
Cultural Impact
The song is frequently covered by numerous artists, spreading its influence across different generations and genres.
Posthumous Recognition
In 2017, ten years after Fogelberg's death, "Same Old Lang Syne" was recognized with an acknowledgement in the form of a commemorative plaque in the parking lot of the grocery store where the real-life encounter happened. This interesting tidbit adds nostalgia to the rich history of the song, continuing to engage fans from around the world.

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    Same Old Lang Syne

    5.2M
    29,566     1,179

    Top Hot 100 Songs 1981

    Billboard #9


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