I was suprised to see Old Black Joe in this list (way back). I was one of those little white kids who,along with non white kids, sang this song in grade school and have loved it ever since. Just this week I was picking it out on my fiddle and thinking what a talent Foster had for simple melodies.   I have serious doubts that we meet up with friends and relatives in an afterlife but the portrayal of old age and death in the song touches me deeply. The feelings of loss and the longing to be reunited put so simply: "I'm comin'".