“Auld Lang Syne,” adapted from a Scottish poem by Robert Burns, became an international New Year's Eve midnight standard.
The title is Scots for “old long since,” commonly understood in context as times gone by or days of old. Burns sent a version of the poem to the Scots Musical Museum in 1788, although parts of the text and melody draw on earlier Scottish material. The song asks whether old friendships and memories should be forgotten.
Its association with New Year's Eve grew through Scottish and Scottish-diaspora traditions. In the twentieth century, radio, recordings, hotels, and public celebrations helped spread it far beyond Scotland. It is now commonly sung at midnight in English-speaking countries and in many international settings.
The song is not exclusively a New Year's song. It is also used at farewells, reunions, graduations, memorials, and other transitions. Its wording and melody vary considerably between countries, so performances may omit or rearrange verses.