Well, I hear ya, but I have to say that when I sing it, I sing it for what it says, as a communication-in-the-moment, and I don't go looking for freight to attach to it.

I'd hate to think what sort of freight might show up if we required "moral clean bill of health" on authors before we would deign to sing their songs. Drunkards, druggies, serial relationships of questionable moral status, and gawd knows what all. Maybe homicidal maniacs.

The song should be sung for what it does in the present.

It's not like you're genetrating royalties to slave traders with every performance.


A