“Auld Lang Syne” was first published with the melody commonly used today in 1799.
The song is associated with Scottish poet Robert Burns, who wrote down and adapted verses based on older Scots songs and oral traditions. The familiar title means “old long since,” or more naturally, “for old times’ sake.” Burns’s words celebrate friendship, shared memories, and the passage of time.
The melody printed with the song in 1799 is the tune that later became standard for New Year’s Eve singing in many English-speaking countries. The song’s association with midnight celebrations grew during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, helped by its use in public gatherings and broadcasts.
“Auld Lang Syne” is not exclusively a New Year’s song. It is also sung at farewells, graduations, memorial events, and other occasions marking an ending or transition. The Scots wording can vary in pronunciation and verse selection, but the chorus remains widely recognizable.