A young African American musician, Joe Moss, plays many instruments such as a harmonica and a jazz harp. His music is known to make onlookers begin to dance. One day, on a hot summer night, Joe stands on the corner of two streets and begins to play his blues songs. The people of the neighborhood sit on their porches and sleep on mattresses near their front doors because they want to hear his music. The song Joe plays is very mournful and seems to blend with the sounds of nightlife and the nearby train on the tracks. Joe is well-known across the United States for his blues music--from New Orleans to Memphis to Dallas. Joe often wears a sweatshirt and red trousers, something that trademarks him. He doesn't work and doesn't have a home, but with the beautiful music he plays, he can find a place to stay and women are attracted to him. Joe thinks about how when he was younger, he didn't realize his potential as a musician until his white preacher explained that Joe was gifted in music. At the age of 21, Joe now plays music on the streets of various cities and finds joy in his lack of a job. As he plays, the people of the town listen to his songs. From young couples driving along the roads to inmates in the nearby jails, they all listen. Joe begins to sing as he plays and thinks of his religious father back at home. His father always told Joe to stop playing instruments, but Joe finds a lot of joy in music. Joe continues to sing and one of the inmates, Mankind Armstrong, listens from the inside of his cell. Mankind Armstrong thinks of his own mother and his pastor as Joe sings church songs. Mankind Armstrong encourages his fellow inmates to listen to Joe's songs as well. After Joe finishes singing, a police man approaches him and calls him by name, explaining that the nearby people are going to get mad if Joe keeps playing music and taking the townspeople's wives. Joe explains that he's never played around with other people's wives. The police man doesn't believe him and asks Joe to play a happier song. Joe agrees and is reminded of the time he was thrown into jail because the police didn't want him playing music outside. Joe begins to play a happier tune of blues and the nearby people begin to walk outside and dance. The police man walks away. As the night fades into morning, people return to their homes and Joe packs up his instruments and goes to a nearby cafe. Joe smokes a cigar while people who admire his music surround him. Joe talks with the people and the cafe waitress and thinks about the joy he has while playing.