After cringing for years over the maudlin excess in the song, I finally heard it performed well enough to overcome all my negativity. And it's sung by a bass - perhaps the greatest who ever lived - Paul Robeson.

It's been released on a recent CD which does justice both to the song and the singer. "The Odysey of Paul Robeson" is a compilation of rare recordings in possession of the Robeson family and is the best I've ever heard.