Since posting this topic, I'm amazed at the array of different opinions. Both for and against are very well stated. I think the closest to my opinion was posted by McGrath of Harlow, where he stated that the song doesn't encourage beating on the daughter but lampoons the "rural folk" aka 'hillbillies' for perhaps behaving in that manner. Thanks for the response. I will have to think twice before performing said tune.
Stoo