Did you sing last night? Did you raise your voice with the chorus? Was the first thing you did in 2009 really embarrassing now that you look back?

You were singing Auld Lang Syne weren’t you.

Howscum?

Howscum we Americans adopted an old irish drinking song (or maybe that is the Star Spangled Banner?) to start the new year?

Howscum it’s the first thing we do in the New Year? Don’t say kissing somebody is the first thing – that’s usually done as the old year passes.

Howscum if it’s a minute past midnight we are singing about long gone friends? Are they dead  people or just people we hacked off that left?

Howscum we don’t sing Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Midnight Special.

Well, you wake up in the mornin, you hear the work bell ring,
And they march you to the table to see the same old thing.
Aint no food upon the table, and no pork up in the pan.
But you better not complain, boy, you get in trouble with the man.

Howscum we don’t sing something more fun and upbeat? I bet in Ireland she sings Jagger and Richard’s The Midnight Rambler. The lyrics are so much more appropriate for today’s New Year.

And if you ever catch the midnight rambler
I’ll steal your mistress from under your nose
I’ll go easy with your cold fanged anger
I’ll stick my knife right down your throat, baby
And it hurts!

Howscum they sing Midnight at the Oasis in the middle East?

Midnight at the oasis
Send your camel to bed
Shadows paintin’ our faces
Traces of romance in our heads
Heaven’s holdin’ a half-moon
Shinin’ just for us
Let’s slip off to a sand dune, real soon
And kick up a little dust
Come on, Cactus is our friend

Fair warning, next year, while you are warbling Auld Lang Syne, I will choose one of these songs and before you get your last Auld Lang Syne, I bet I have more people singing with me.

Howscum we don’t sing one – or better yet – ALL of these “midnight” songs:

• In The Midnight Hour by Wilson Pickett
• Midnight Rider by the Allman Brothers and Waylon Jennings
• Sister Midnight by Iggy Pop
• Midnight Moonlight by Jerry Garcia and David Grisman
• Fire At Midnight by Jethro Tull

I believe in fires at midnight —
when the dogs have all been fed.
A golden toddy on the mantle —
a broken gun beneath the bed.

• Burning Of The Midnight Lamp by the Jimi Hendrix Experience
• Living After Midnight by Judas Priest

‘Splain that to me Lucy.

Howscum?

UPDATE: NOW THIS IS A COOL very upbeat version…