This is the first time I've been on this site. Got here by Googling "Battle of the Boiling Water." Why? Well, I'm 63 years old and it's getting to be around the time of my late father's birthday. I remember when I was a little boy asking him about this tune I'd heard (this was in Erie, Pa., mind you) in grade school. He was enraged. Said I was not to be asking about garbage like that because we were Catholics. Of course, I had no idea what he was talking about.
After reading the posts on this forum, I have a better idea what the fuss was about. But, the version I'd heard -- and it included Micks and sticks -- was very anti-Catholic. Heaping bad upon bad, I was in third or fourth grade at St. Patrick's elementary school in Erie when I heard it.
I've been researching our proud "Catholic" family for a few years now and what I've learned is that we came to America from County Donegal in 1820. From the books I've seen, we came over as Presbyterians. It seems to have taken a generation or two before at least part of the family converted to Catholicism, with one great-aunt becoming a nun.
We seem to be strange folk. Unfortunately, at some point, long ago, parts of the family broke apart. I have no idea, outside my brother and sister, where any of my kin have gotten. Anyway, thought I'd add my two cents about the song.

Bill McKinney
Erie, Pa.
sholly@roadrunner.com