“Auld Lang Syne” is the song commonly sung at midnight on New Year's Eve.
The title is Scots for “old long since” or, more naturally, “for old times' sake.” The words are associated with the Scottish poet Robert Burns, who sent a version of the poem to the Scots Musical Museum in 1788. Burns did not necessarily invent every line or the melody; earlier versions of the text and tune existed.
The song's theme is remembrance and enduring friendship. Its chorus asks whether old acquaintances should be forgotten, making it a natural fit for a transition from one year to the next. English-language communities around the world adopted it for New Year's celebrations.
The melody can vary in performance, and many singers know only the chorus. It is not Scotland's national anthem. “The Skye Boat Song,” “Flower of Scotland,” and “Scotland the Brave” are different Scottish songs.