Millions of peoplesing it each year at the stroke of midnight, some beaming with joy and others overcome with emotion as they bid goodbye to the year that has passed.
But what does the New Year's song, "Auld Lang Syne" mean? Where did it originate, and how did it become etched into history as the unofficial tune of the New Year's tradition?
Pronounced "Old Lang Zyne," experts say it was first a poem before becoming a song that is now a staple in New Year's celebrations.
Scottish poet Robert Burnswrote the poem in 1788 to his friend, Frances Dunlop, after hearing a peasant sing the words and transcribing the lyrics, according to the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Italy.
The poem was published in 1796, eight years after Burns's death, as part of a collection of Scottish songs. About 11 years after Burns first wrote the poem to his friend, the song collector George Thomson set it to music.
The title of the poem-turned-song, "Auld Lang Syne," is an 18th-century Scottish phrase that translates to "old long since" or "for old times' sake."
Here's what to know about the song, and why we sing it.
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How the song became popular in the US
In Scotland, revelers gather just before midnight to stand in a circle, hold hands and sing the song.
Just before the final verse, "'And there's a hand my trusty friend," the singers cross their arms across their bodies so that their left hands are grasping the person to the right of them, and their right hands grasp those to their left. Once the song ends, they rush to the center of the circle, reportedScotland.org.
The song waspopularized in the U.S. in 1929, when band leader Guy Lombardo and his brothers performed it on the radio, said Travis Alexander, a professor in North Carolina A&T State University's College of Art, Humanities and Social Sciences.
The performance was at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York, he previously told USA TODAY.
"It became an expected staple every year at midnight for him and his band to perform this live over the radio," Alexander said.
Lombardo continued to lead the band as theyperformed the song on the radio until 1954, then the band switched to broadcasting the performance on television.
Lombardo's performances went on until 1976. He died the following year. For two years after his death, the band continued ringing in the New Year on television.
What are the lyrics?
Most people only know thefirst verse and the chorusof the New Year's Song, according to Scotland.org. But here's how it goes:
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,And never brought to mind?Should auld acquaintance be forgot,And auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my jo,For auld lang syne,We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,For auld lang syne,
Alexander, from North Carolina A&T State University, said the song leaves those celebrating with a thought to ponder as they welcome the new year.
"How should we remember our friends and our experiences of the year?" he said. "That's when the phrase comes in 'For auld lang syne.'"
And for those looking for inspiration for the coming year, the chorus presents them with an idea going forward, Alexander said.
For auld lang syne, my jo,For auld lang syne,We'll tak a cup o' kindness yetFor auld lang syne.
"Really look at the lyrics and just start the new year off with kindness, as the song says," he said.
Contributing: Mary Wozniak, The News-Press
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:What to know about the New Year's Song and its popularity in the U.S.
