“Auld Lang Syne” is a Scottish poem that was written by Robert Burns in 1788. Burns claimed when he wrote the words down and put them to music, and later sent the poem to the Scots Musical Museum, “Auld Lang Syne” was an ancient song but he had been the first to record it on paper. According to Scotland.org, the phrase “auld lang syne” translates roughly to “for old times’ sake.” Others have translated it to mean “time goes by” or even as “once upon a time.” The song is about preserving old friendships and reminiscing about events that occurred during the year. Many people sing it to evoke fellowship and nostalgia, though most cannot fully get past the first verse of the song. Its lyrics are a challenge to the unfamiliar — even among those who grew up in the United Kingdom. According to a 2018 poll by the British supermarket chain Sainsbury’s, just 3%of people who live in England know the words to “Auld Lang Syne.” Among Scots, only 7% know all the lyrics. Even still, people may be content to hum along when “Auld Lang Syne” is traditionally sung on New Year’s Eve.
