Robert Burns wrote the poem that became the traditional New Year's Eve song “Auld Lang Syne.”
Burns, Scotland's national poet, sent a version of the words to the Scots Musical Museum in 1788. The phrase “auld lang syne” means “old long since,” or more naturally, “for old times' sake.” The poem asks whether old friendships and shared memories should be forgotten, answering with a call to remember them.
The melody now commonly used with the words was printed in the early nineteenth century and became internationally familiar. Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians helped establish the song as a New Year's Eve standard in North America through their annual radio and television broadcasts.
The song is often attributed entirely to Burns, but he adapted earlier Scots verses and traditional material rather than inventing every line from nothing. Its wording and tune also vary between countries, so performances may include different verses or arrangements.