AN old song from the colonial era, ‘AULD LANG SYNE’ became a popular Old Year’s Night midnight anthem. It was more of a hymn when, as young men, we danced to popular bands like Mischievous Guys and Sound Dimension, etc. They were songs covered by people who could sing. ‘May old acquaintances be forgotten’ is the part of the song that has always intrigued me. I was taught to respect the memory of worthy elders gone. The peculiarity of the song to me lay with its origins, on tracing its roots. It’s a Scottish song, and though it was sung mostly (in my experience) by the male crowd at our Creole Fetes, as usual, it may have carried two different meanings from its originals for us who have adopted it. The Scots are a tribal people of old Alba (Scotland), whose rise and fall evolution will have had a longer intact memory of collective events that they wish to be forgotten in some instances.

The lyrics of the song, however interpreted, indicate a severance with the past. True, one cannot live in the past, but interpreting the ‘Old Acquaintances’ aspect of its title, a conflict comes into place. ‘Old Acquaintances’ dwell in the foundations of how we understand the world that envelops us today. ‘Old Acquaintances’ have influenced our balance of judgement, regardless of whether we are aware of it or not.

For example, take entertainment and how the music is presented then and today. Back in the 70s/80s, Mischievous Guys or Sid & The Slickers, or even in a Talent/Music Show, the Master of Ceremonies, like the late Hector Stoute, would make a presentation that exhibited showmanship that was dramatic, poetic and smooth as the lyrics and mood of any crooner. Of course, times have changed and by the mid-1980s, the big sound systems copied from Jamaica without the ‘new talent’ presentation feature that reached into the Jamaican music industry became active here. Locally, the usual waltz mood was instead replaced by more secular and arguably vulgar dance gatherings.

This was the beginning of the decline of the string bands, except in special places like hotels and high-end Bars. Then, our up-full popular culture entertainment now revolved around visiting artistes at Shows at the National Park, with our local artistes as prelude sideshows. The initial shows were ‘legit’ promoters who backed off when the drug dealers began mimicking their businesses. What followed were a majority of Emcees with no suave.

The above paragraph explains why ‘Old acquaintances’ must not be forgotten but can teach us that even if we fall and find ourselves in the puttaputta, we can remember when we stood on the polished stage and received genuine applause, and once more rise to the occasion. Another area with the Old Year’s Night ritual is the Midnight cook-up too late. The home realised that with frequent blackouts, we shouldn’t have bought grated coconut and placed it in the fridge. Realising that it was spoiled, neighbourhood shops/supermarkets were sought.

To my surprise, friendly debates began on my quest for coconuts, against why not use coconut milk in tins instead. Thus, the majority opted for commercially packaged coconut milk, and I, in good humour, continued my trek to find some nuts while the cook waited. Eventually, I found some small nuts, but on shaking them, was convinced they were good. On passing back, one of the debating crew jovially mocked, “See how de White man Christmas got yuh?” Likewise, I responded, “No bro, long before Christmas, the old people celebrated this period as the Winter Solstice festival, renewing the fertile energies of the land.

Though there are different interpretations, we celebrate the Earth, with sober rituals, possibly that’s where the midnight Cook-up came from. Got to do it right, bro, some people done gone wrong with the pork in it; that’s how I got it, so I pass it to you fellows.” What I do regret is not paying more attention to the sources when they talked about stuff. Nevertheless, that lesson has been learnt.

In closing, I also regret that many of our professionals, from whom I’ve learnt so much, did not commit their ‘Old Acquittances’ to family-owned diaries that, when shared in the public, cannot be altered. We have indeed lost much of what we the public should indeed have learnt.