“Auld Lang Syne,” associated with Scottish poet Robert Burns, is the song traditionally sung at midnight on New Year's Eve.
The title uses Scots words commonly translated as “old long since,” or more naturally, “for old times' sake.” Burns sent a version of the poem to the Scots Musical Museum in 1788, while parts of the wording draw on older Scottish song traditions.
The melody now familiar internationally became strongly connected with New Year's celebrations through social singing and later popular recordings. Its themes of friendship, memory, and shared history help explain why it suits a transition from one year to the next.
Although many people know only the opening line, the song has several verses. Pronunciations and melodies vary by country, and it is also used at farewells, graduations, and other occasions marking change. Burns is sometimes incorrectly described as the sole inventor of every word and musical element; the text and tune have older, layered origins.