Robert Burns wrote the famous poem associated with singing “Auld Lang Syne” at New Year's celebrations.
Burns sent a version of the poem to the Scots Musical Museum in 1788, describing it as an old song that had not been printed or even written down in the form he heard. The phrase “auld lang syne” means roughly “old long since,” or memories of times gone by.
The words are usually sung to a traditional melody that became widely established in the nineteenth century. The song spread internationally through Scottish communities and later through recordings, radio, and public celebrations. It is now especially associated with the moment when one year changes into the next.
Burns is sometimes credited as the sole creator of every part of the song, but the lyrics draw on older Scottish material and the familiar tune has a complex transmission history. His birthday is celebrated on Burns Night each January 25.