Robert Burns wrote the poem behind “Auld Lang Syne,” the song widely sung at New Year's Eve celebrations.
Burns composed the poem in 1788, drawing on older Scottish verses and expressions. The title is Scots for “old long since,” commonly understood as referring to times gone by or old friendships. Burns sent the words to the Scots Musical Museum, where they were printed after his death in 1796.
The familiar melody became strongly associated with New Year's celebrations during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It is also used at farewells, reunions, graduations, and other moments marking a transition. A common mix-up is to credit Burns with inventing both the words and the tune; he is principally credited with the poem and its adaptation, while the melody developed through musical tradition. The song is not exclusively Scottish today: versions are performed internationally in English and many other languages.