Meaning of "Cod Liver Oil" by The Dubliners

The song "Cod Liver Oil" by The Dubliners can be interpreted as a commentary on the disillusionment that can come with marriage and caretaking responsibilities. The narrator's exhaustion and desperation are palpable as he deals with an idle wife who only consumes cod liver oil and wishes for death. The repetition of the doctor's name and the insistence on the strength of the oil could symbolize a futile search for a solution to a problem that may have no easy fix. This could represent how people, in times of struggle or confusion, turn to external sources for help, even if they may not be the ultimate solution. The humorous exaggeration of the wife's obsession with the oil and the transformation of their home into a doctor's shop adds a touch of absurdity to the narrative, perhaps highlighting the absurd lengths people go to find quick fixes for complex issues.