But, I'm interested in how listeners react - or don't react -to that word today.

Apart from you, I don't believe anyone 'reacts' to the word at all. It is part of the lyrics of the song. Its meaning is unchanged.
I do accept that some people are so intellectually challenged that they are unable to conceive of a word having more than one meaning.
The same has happened with the word 'gay'. I'm sure nobody would believe that all the bridesmaids in G&S's Ruddigore were lesbians:
Every day, as the days roll on, Bridesmaids' garb we gaily don However, it does paint an interesting scene!