Auld Lang Syne is the song traditionally sung at midnight on New Year's Eve and is associated with a poem by Robert Burns.
Burns wrote down and adapted the Scots poem in 1788, drawing on older Scottish verses and oral tradition. The title means “old long since” or, more naturally, “for old times' sake.” Its lyrics ask whether old friends and memories should be forgotten, making it especially suitable for a moment that marks both endings and beginnings.
The melody commonly used today became standardized through later musical arrangements. The song spread internationally through Scottish communities, popular singers, and public celebrations. It is now heard at New Year's events in many countries, even when listeners do not know all the Scots words.
A common mistake is to treat Burns as the sole author of every line and the melody. He preserved and reshaped earlier material rather than inventing the entire tradition from nothing.