I think this is like any song, that the singing of it is completely open to interpretation, not only by the singer, but by the listener. When a folklorist came around in the early 80's to tape some of "Grannie's" songs, he would ask Granny after each song, "What does that mean to you?" "What was the girl thinking about when she hung herself after discovering her lover had betrayed her?" "What kind of woman would help drown her sister in the miller's pond?" Well, granny replied that she had never thought about any of this, that she just sang the songs. Her mother had sang them to her and that was just the way it was. When he prodded more, granny just said that the girl was foolish to hang herself all for the love of that "butcher" boy. The Blues songs have double meanings IF not just outright sexual comments. Need a new coffee grinder? You've been a good old wagon, but the wagon done broke down...are the mild ones. I think it would take a very nieve person to sing these songs and NOT KNOW of the real meanings. OK, my point is simple. Granny would have sang the "Baby" song with complete innocence and never given any dark meanings a thought. Others, with more sophistication, would sing it with all kinds of implications. So, why not just enjoy the songs on whatever level you like? And Patty, you didn't patronize me at all. Sometimes, I'm just not good at saying things. I was actually agreeing with you, and the telling of my background was just to show that I really did understand what you were saying. I think I will be like granny...and just enjoy. Life is complicated enough already! Thanks to all! And I am going to order the RECORD. Thanks for the info. Masato. Judy