>>> "by our national bard"
I think not! It was a traditional song which Burns simply wrote down upon hearing an old man sing it. He may have added to it but he certainly didn't create it.
Are we, by your strict rules, Rich47, permitted to sing "my dear" after "For auld lang syne" or must we sing "my Jo" (which is what Burns copied down)?
A Cantie Yule and a Guid New Year to you, anyway ;-)