Robert Burns wrote down the Scots poem that became the lyrics of “Auld Lang Syne.” Burns, Scotland’s national poet, sent his version to the Scots Musical Museum in 1788, noting that some lines came from an older song.
The poem asks whether longtime acquaintances and shared memories should be forgotten, then describes drinking a cup of kindness and sharing fellowship. Later editors and musicians paired the words with a melody that became standard in the nineteenth century.
Burns did not create every phrase from nothing; he adapted material from oral and printed traditions. That layered origin explains why historians describe him as the writer or collector of the familiar version. The song’s association with New Year’s Eve grew through social gatherings and broadcasts, eventually spreading far beyond Scotland.