Robert Burns wrote the Scots poem whose words became the traditional song “Auld Lang Syne.”
Burns sent a version of the poem to the Scots Musical Museum in 1788, describing it as an old song he had heard from an elderly man. The title means roughly “old long since,” or more naturally, “for old times’ sake.” Its theme is remembrance, friendship, and shared experience rather than New Year’s Eve specifically.
The words were later paired with a familiar traditional melody. The song became strongly associated with New Year celebrations through social customs and performances, especially in English-speaking countries. People commonly sing it while linking arms and swaying in a circle.
Burns is sometimes credited with inventing every word and musical detail, but the poem drew on older Scottish material and the tune has a traditional history. The song is also used at farewells, memorials, graduations, and other moments of transition.