Hope it's okay to post in an old thread!

I've been learning this song, and have a distinct interpretation that only fits more as I read what you said about it or think on it. Particularly about 'dons' referring to a member of staff at the university.

So, first we have summer and the scarecrow. The scarecrow symbolises the working man in his most productive years. He is chained to his post, and does a job in which he is easily replaceable, but he's essential to basics of society (growing food).

Where they say 'you'd lay me down and love me, if you could' it refers to his alienation from his family (esp. spouse). He can't dedicate the time to his life outside of work, as work takes everything. Calling him a 'bag of rags in an overall', as repeated later, shows the devaluing of the work he does.

Then we have the old man. This is the same man getting older and approaching retirement age. He's worn down to almost nothing from work.

The question 'how could you lay me down and love me, now?' is that his life/health/time has been stripped of him by work to the point that he can't enjoy life/be a part of his family.

In spring, they are tying a child to a post. Specifically, these are teachers. The child learns to be tied to the pole. They ring the (school) bells, and sing songs (representing the play/joy in childhood), but ultimately they still sow the corn, knowing the child will have to toil their life as the scarecrow to make it grow.

"Now you can lay me down and love me, if you will" refers to the fact he has finally retired, and can live a life outside of work. But the years of work took a lot out of him, and changed him:

"but the wind blew, and the sun shone too, and the corn grew tall"

The repeat at the end is the same child, grown up and now working. The old man is finally retired, and the child has grown and taken his place.