Never thought this had anything to do with abuse. Always saw it as a warning to young women about courting mankind & how they're an unworthy, untrustful lot & a of garabage
that not even a wife nor a daughter can trust to be true.

See Come All You Fair & Tender Ladies you'll notice that in the many versions on the linked thread & other threads that the verses about the unfaithful father & the verse about the weary mother aren't even included. Almost makes one think that they play a less important role in the song than the actuall warning does.

Barry