I think Ted Widmer of the New York Times has got it all wrong. It's a tender song, but not a bitter one.

Nothing says that 'Hally' was a young woman or was the singer's lover. She could be anybody's aunt or family friend. The singer thinks of a her grave and enjoys the singing of the mockingbird there. Grief has altered to sad fondness.

And when we break into the rollicking chorus, all tragedy is shoved right off the stage. I used to play this, and I know.