Robert Burns is traditionally credited with the Scottish song “Auld Lang Syne,” widely sung at New Year.
Burns wrote down and adapted the song in 1788, drawing on older Scottish words and melodies. The title means “old long since,” or more naturally, “for old times’ sake.” Its verses ask whether old friends and memories should be forgotten, making it especially suitable for a farewell to the old year.
The song became internationally popular after musical arrangements and performances spread beyond Scotland. In many English-speaking countries it is sung just after midnight, although the lyrics are often shortened to the first verse and chorus. Some versions also use a different melody or pronunciation.
Burns’s role is sometimes simplified into the claim that he invented every word and note. More precisely, he preserved and reshaped traditional material. The song’s New Year association is therefore the result of both Burns’s literary contribution and its later adoption in public celebrations.