I should clarify one point though. Although I had often heard, as a boy that the song was about "Consumption", I hadn't a clue what that meant and always felt too stupid to ask. Something we could all keep in mind when someone posts a thread such as this one.
Paddy was the first one to sit down on the bleachers with me and interpret the song line by line. He didn't wait to be asked. Just passed along a little knowledge.
If I had payed attention in school the way I did to him that day, I'd be far too important to talk to any of yous!
Grin!
Jim