Robert Burns wrote the poem commonly credited as the source of the words to “Auld Lang Syne.”
Burns was an eighteenth-century Scottish poet and lyricist, born in 1759 and often called the national poet of Scotland. In 1788, he sent a version of Auld Lang Syne to the Scots Musical Museum, helping preserve and popularize the words associated with the song.
The wording is not considered wholly original to Burns. He drew on older Scots songs and oral traditions, revising material that already circulated in different forms. This is why references often describe Burns as the writer or adapter of the familiar lyrics rather than the sole inventor of the tradition.
The song’s international New Year's association developed later through public celebrations, music publishing, and broadcasts. Burns Night, held on January 25, is a separate Scottish celebration honoring Burns and should not be confused with the midnight New Year's custom.