I did this on my old NPR radio show about 1984 and we got more than just a few complaints. Most said it was about sanctioning abusing women---even murdering women. I went on the next week and answered those folks. First I said I was sorry they had heard it that way. It surely was not my intent that they see it that way. Then I noted, as had Lenny Bruce, that "a knowledge of syphyllis was not in any way condoning the going out and contracting of that disease." It was just to educate people to the darker side of history and how the folk songs reflect that. We never had any more communications about it that I ever heard of after that. But I still do think about that episode. The women's movement of 20 years ago certainly did raise my consciousness and I think I'm better for it. After that I almost always introduced the song saying I meant no offense at all. "This is an old ballad and not to be analyzed using modern sensibilities. To not sing it would be like burning books. No way can I do that so try to see it as the artifact it might be and, please, sing along. It's got a fun refrain to sing."

Art Thieme