Phil, originally from Adlington in Lancashire..

We used to sing along with my mum in the late 1950's to this song. I recall the start about Uncle Mick and his stick. I don't know why, but I found myself singing this verse today:

Some were shrieking, some were scriking (Adlington for crying but unsure of the spelling - rhymes with hiking)
Some were shouting 'mercy'
And some were running with their arseholes brunning (Adlington for burning)
in the attle of Boiling Water.

There was no religious intent as far as we knew, but it was just a good song for us kids to sing along with.