I sing "Old Black Joe," and I think it's a beautiful song. John Roberts, whom I greatly respect, chewed me out for singing it; but we're still friends, and I still sing the song. Some people think the song expresses nostalgia for the days of slavery, and they get nervous about the word "black." Paul Robeson recorded it as "Old Man Joe," which I didn't like. I see it as a song of nostalgia for the days of youth, which is when I learned the song.

-Joe-