Robert Burns wrote the best-known lyrics of “Auld Lang Syne,” the traditional song widely sung at New Year's celebrations.
Burns, a Scottish poet, sent a version of the song to the Scots Musical Museum in 1788. He said that the words were based partly on an older Scottish song, so he is generally credited with preserving and shaping the familiar lyrics rather than inventing every element from nothing.
The title is Scots for “old long since,” conveying the idea of remembering old times. The song asks whether old friends and past experiences should be forgotten, then celebrates fellowship through shared memories.
Although strongly associated with midnight on New Year's Eve, the song is also used at farewells, graduations, memorials, and other transitions. Its melody and lyrics vary around the world, but the version connected with Burns is the standard reference for the New Year's tradition.