Robert Burns wrote the words most associated with the New Year's song “Auld Lang Syne.”
Burns, Scotland's national poet, sent a version of the song to the Scots Musical Museum in 1788. The phrase “auld lang syne” means “old long since,” or more naturally, “for old times' sake.” The lyrics ask whether old friends and past times should be forgotten, making the song a natural fit for a transition into a new year.
Burns did not necessarily invent every line or the entire melody from nothing. He recorded and adapted older Scottish words and song traditions, while the tune commonly used today developed through later musical arrangements. That layered history is why the song is credited to Burns but is also treated as traditional Scottish music.
The song became internationally associated with New Year's celebrations through performances and recordings, especially in English-speaking countries. It is also used at farewells, graduations, memorials, and other moments of shared remembrance.