Robert Burns wrote the poem whose lyrics became the basis for the New Year's Eve song “Auld Lang Syne.”
Burns sent a version of “Auld Lang Syne” to the Scots Musical Museum in 1788, describing it as an old song. The poem uses Scots language, and its title means “old long since,” commonly understood as referring to old times or memories. Burns likely preserved and reshaped existing oral material rather than inventing every line from nothing.
The familiar melody developed through traditional musical arrangements and was not fixed in one definitive form at the poem's origin. Over time, the song became associated with farewells, reunions, and the transition between years.
It is especially common at midnight on New Year's Eve in English-speaking countries, but performances also occur at graduations, memorials, and other endings. Pronunciations and verses vary, while the chorus is usually the part audiences know best.