In the song traditionally sung at midnight on New Year's Eve, Robert Burns wrote the familiar lyrics to “Auld Lang Syne.”
Burns, Scotland's national poet, sent a version of the poem to the Scots Musical Museum in 1788. He said it was based partly on an older Scots song, so he is generally credited with preserving and shaping the words rather than inventing every element from scratch.
The title means “old long since,” or more naturally, “for old times' sake.” The lyrics ask whether old acquaintances and shared memories should be forgotten, which explains the song's association with farewells and new beginnings.
The melody used today is a traditional tune rather than a newly composed work by Burns. The song became especially prominent in English-speaking New Year celebrations through performances and broadcasts in the 20th century.