Auld Lang Syne is the song commonly sung at midnight on New Year's Eve in many English-speaking countries.
The title uses Scots words that can be translated roughly as “old long since,” or memories of times gone by. The lyrics are based largely on a Scots poem published by Robert Burns in 1788, although Burns drew on older lines and traditional material rather than inventing every phrase from nothing.
The familiar melody was printed with the words in the nineteenth century and later spread internationally through Scottish communities, recordings, radio, and New Year's broadcasts. Its themes of friendship, remembrance, and shared history suit a moment that marks both an ending and a beginning.
A common mistake is to treat the song as exclusively a Scottish national anthem. It is strongly associated with Scotland, but its New Year's use became global. Verses are often omitted, and the tune is also used for farewells, memorial events, graduations, and other transitions.