Auld Lang Syne - what those words mean and where they came from

I've sung along to "Auld Lang Syne" at every New Year's party I've ever attended. Everyone belts out the words, at least the ones they know, and sways with their arms around each other. We all seem to have learned the words from each other at previous parties. But who really knows what those familiar words mean? Why do we sing them and who started it? Click here to read the lyrics, an explanation, and some history from www.archivalmoments.ca.

Photo Credit: The Rooms Provincial Archives: A 62-58. A Joyful New Year from Newfoundland.