Robert Burns wrote the poem that provides the best-known lyrics of “Auld Lang Syne.”
Burns, Scotland's national poet, sent a version of the poem to the Scots Musical Museum in 1788. The phrase “auld lang syne” means “old long since” or, more naturally, “for old times' sake.” The text asks whether old friendships and shared memories should be forgotten.
The melody commonly used today is not certainly the tune Burns originally heard or intended. Earlier Scottish verses and melodies with similar words existed, and the familiar arrangement became widespread during the nineteenth century.
The song became strongly associated with New Year's Eve through celebrations in Scotland and later through broadcasts, dance halls, and social gatherings around the English-speaking world. It is also used at farewells, reunions, graduations, and other transitions, so New Year's Eve is not its only setting.