What Does 'Auld Lang Syne' Really Mean?

Brandon Specktor - 12/19/2018

The short answer: 'Auld Lang Syne' is the title and key phrase of a 1788 Scots poem by Robert Burns, typically sung on New Year's Eve around the world. The phrase 'auld lang syne' literally translates to 'old long since,' and basically means, 'days gone by.' The original, five-verse version of the poem essentially gets people singing, 'let's drink to days gone by'—an appropriate toast for the New Year.