Auld Lang Syne is the traditional song often sung at midnight during New Year's Eve celebrations in English-speaking countries.
The song uses a Scots phrase that means roughly “old long since,” or memories of times gone by. Its familiar lyrics are based on a Scots poem published by Robert Burns in 1788, although Burns drew on older traditional material. The melody became closely associated with the song over time.
Guy Lombardo and his band helped establish Auld Lang Syne as a New Year's standard in North America. Their radio and later television broadcasts made the performance a recurring part of public countdowns. It is now heard in many countries, often with people linking arms or raising glasses.
People sometimes assume Burns wrote every word and created the entire song from scratch. More precisely, he documented and adapted traditional lines while adding material of his own. The song's meaning centers on remembrance and friendship rather than a literal countdown.