Song in My Head (and in my classroom)

During the past few weeks, I have been teaching poetry.  As a segway into our anthology, I used this Shel Silverstein classic.  Our biggest discussion point" is the word "bitch" necessary or not.  What do you think they feel? 
Originally, Johnny Cash did not want to record his friends poem, but was convinced by his wife June Carter Cash to do it.  He debuted it at the San Quentin Prison, and the inmates loved it.  Here's "A Boy Named Sue."