Robert Burns wrote the Scottish poem whose words became the traditional New Year’s song “Auld Lang Syne.”
Burns sent a version of the poem to the Scots Musical Museum in 1788, describing it as an old song and noting that he had supplied some words. The text uses Scots language and asks whether old friendships and memories should be forgotten. Its title means “old long since,” commonly understood as “for old times’ sake.”
The familiar melody was paired with the words in the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century. The song later spread internationally through Scottish communities and popular performances, becoming especially associated with midnight on New Year’s Eve.
Burns did not invent every element of the song from nothing. Earlier versions of similar lyrics existed, and the modern tune differs from some older melodies. Nevertheless, Burns is the standard credited author of the poem and remains Scotland’s national poet.