“Auld Lang Syne” means “for old times’ sake,” a phrase associated with remembering past friendships and shared experiences.
The song uses words adapted from a 1788 poem by the Scottish writer Robert Burns. Burns credited earlier Scottish verses as sources, so he did not necessarily invent every line. The melody commonly used today became connected with the poem through later musical arrangements.
Its New Year association developed especially through performance traditions in Scotland and later spread internationally. People often sing it while linking arms or holding hands, reinforcing its themes of fellowship and remembrance.
“Auld lang syne” is Scots, not modern standard English. “Auld” means old, “lang” means long, and “syne” means since or time past. The song is not exclusively a New Year piece: it is also used at farewells, memorials, graduations, and other moments of transition.