Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians made “Auld Lang Syne” a famous annual New Year’s Eve radio tradition.
Lombardo’s orchestra performed the song in its New Year broadcasts, helping establish its strong association with midnight celebrations in North America. The group was known for a long-running New Year’s Eve broadcast tradition that reached large radio and later television audiences.
The song’s title is Scots for “old long since,” or more naturally, “days gone by.” Its melody and words concern remembering old friendships and shared times, which explains its suitability for a reflective year-end moment.
The song is not an official anthem of New Year’s Eve, and customs differ around the world. It is also frequently misattributed as an original composition by Lombardo; he popularized a performance tradition rather than writing the song.