Van .. you have me intrigued... Is it perhaps a story of Burns being insulted that his good friend WILLIE got snubbed in some bar so Burns being Burns wanted to make his mate feel better by writing those lines in consolation to him?? Is that what the root of that story is?
Either way Burns loved his buddy and that song is a great example of his love for his male friends.

MUDCATS
I think we nearly have cobbled together a decent WHEN I LEAVE AULD GLESGA BEHIND.

DAVEBHOY my maw nearly 'piaffed' hersel when she read your edith story
xx