Which Scottish poet wrote the words most associated with “Auld Lang Syne”?

Scottish poet Robert Burns wrote the words most associated with “Auld Lang Syne.”

Burns sent a version of the poem to a friend in 1788, explaining that he had received an older song and supplied words that preserved its traditional spirit. The poem uses Scots expressions about remembering old acquaintances and past days. Burns's version helped establish the text now recognized around the world.

The familiar melody was not necessarily created by Burns and has a complicated history involving earlier tunes and later musical arrangements. That is why the song's authorship is sometimes oversimplified as if Burns wrote both words and music. Its worldwide New Year's role developed much later through music publishing, public singing, and radio and television broadcasts. In Scotland, Hogmanay celebrations helped keep the song particularly prominent, but the song is now used far beyond Scotland.