What's wrong with a sad song?

I remember as a kid being intrigued by the song "Oh, my darlin' Clementine."

Sure sounds like a sad story. Can't be! But it is fun to sing it exaggerating its tragic surface.

There is a young boy who comes here every week for ear-immersion, for want of a better description. This always includes singing - by far his favorite part. What song does he most love? Sweet Molly Malone. Apparently he sings it all the time at home.

Then last night I read a James Thurber piece in which he objects to the Andrews Sisters re-working of the song to have a happy ending. ... oh my, what a little humor can do.