Auld Lang Syne is the traditional song that begins “Should auld acquaintance be forgot” and is commonly sung at midnight on New Year’s Eve.
The title is Scots for “old long since,” conveying the idea of remembering former times and old friendships. The best-known words were written by the Scottish poet Robert Burns and first published in 1796, shortly after his death. Burns said he had collected and adapted older Scottish material rather than inventing every line from scratch.
Its melody became widely known in the nineteenth century and spread internationally through Scottish communities and popular entertainment. The song is now associated with farewells, reunions, and the turning of the year in many countries.
Many listeners know only the opening verse and chorus. The phrase is sometimes mistakenly written as “old lang syne,” but the Scots title uses “auld,” and several verses exist beyond the familiar New Year’s rendition.