The song widely sung at midnight on New Year's Eve is “Auld Lang Syne.”
The lyrics are based on a Scottish poem associated with Robert Burns, who wrote down and adapted versions of older traditional material in 1788. The title is Scots for “old long since,” commonly understood in the song as referring to former times, old friendships, and memories.
The melody became especially influential through performances and broadcasts by bandleader Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians. Their New Year's Eve radio broadcasts from New York helped establish the song as a familiar midnight tradition in the United States during the 20th century.
The song is not an official international anthem, and its use varies by country. It may be sung at farewells, graduations, memorial occasions, and other transitions as well as at New Year's celebrations.