Auld Lang Syne

Lore & Background

Robert Burns sent a copy of the original song to the Scots Musical Museum in 1788, remarking that it was an old song he took down from an old man. Some lyrics were collected rather than composed by Burns; the ballad "Old Long Syne" printed in 1711 by James Watson shows considerable similarity in the first verse and chorus. The song originally had another melody, deemed "mediocre" by Burns, but the first documented use of the melody commonly used today was in 1799 in George Thomson's Select Songs of Scotland.

Singing the song on Hogmanay quickly became a Scots custom that spread to other parts of the British Isles and then worldwide with emigrants. The tradition of singing with crossed hands linked arose in the mid-19th century among Freemasons and other fraternal organizations. At Hogmanay in Scotland, participants join hands in a great circle, crossing arms at the last verse, then rush to the middle and turn under arms to face outward.

The English composer William Shield briefly quotes the melody in his opera Rosina (1782), possibly its first recorded use. Joseph Haydn and Ludwig van Beethoven both arranged the song, using the original brisk strathspey rhythm. The melody has been quoted by John Philip Sousa in his march "Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company."

Reader's Guide

"Auld Lang Syne" holds enduring significance as a global anthem of remembrance and farewell. Its Scots title translates to "old long since" or "days gone by," and the chorus's call to remember old times has made it a staple at New Year celebrations worldwide. Beyond Hogmanay, the song is used at funerals, graduations, the end of Scout gatherings, and other occasions marking endings or new beginnings. Its melody has been adapted for hymns, club songs, and even national anthems (South Korea in the 1940s and the Maldives until 1972). The song's history reflects a blend of folk tradition and literary composition, with Robert Burns collecting and refining older verses. Classical composers like Haydn and Beethoven arranged it, and its tune appears in works by Shield, Cohan, and Sousa. The tradition of singing with crossed hands, though varying between Scottish and other customs, remains a powerful symbol of unity and parting. The song's presence at events such as the Last Night of the Proms, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, and Royal Navy passing-out parades underscores its role as a cultural touchstone for English-speaking communities.

Did You Know?

• The song is listed as numbers 6294 and 13892 in the Roud Folk Song Index.
• The first documented use of the melody commonly used today was in 1799, in George Thomson's Select Songs of Scotland.
• British soldiers in the trenches of the First World War sang 'We're Here Because We're Here' to the tune of 'Auld Lang Syne'.
• The tradition of singing the song with crossed hands linked arose in the mid-19th century among Freemasons and other fraternal organizations.