Yes, they were, though funnily enough evidence points to the fact that it was the rural victims that revelled in singing them.

Just as the saucy and 'fat ladies' seaside postcards mocked the people who bought and posted them (or at least, they mocked the people next along on the beach). And that 'regional' TV soap operas that caricature people are popular in those regions - everyone knows someone like that.

People are not alays as 'precious' as commentators from outside their group, especially those taking care not to cause offence (you could say 'politically correct'), may think

Not that care is not needed, as the some responses to Jim's friendly 'bunch of scuffs' comment indicate. Really, if someone can misinterpret that they can misinterpret a line from a song.

Why shouldn't a milkmaid or ploughboy enjoy the idea of a rural idyll painted for the pleasure gardens or have a laugh at a characature of someone like someone they know - or even themselves if done sympathetically.