tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11905858.post570033241370092462..comments2024-02-22T03:24:41.617-05:00Comments on 33 1/3 has moved to http://333sound.com: Odetta, R.I.P.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07317377313622554323noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11905858.post-67314177505225481952008-12-11T21:56:00.000-05:002008-12-11T21:56:00.000-05:00Oh Odetta, sing for meTake me across that deep blu...Oh Odetta, sing for me<BR/>Take me across that deep blue sea<BR/>Back to the Garden whence we came<BR/>Back to the spring of your sweet refrain<BR/>"All the way to freedom land...<BR/>All the way to freedom land"<BR/>Across the skies and back through time<BR/>Back to the cradle of humankind<BR/><BR/>Oh Odetta, sing for me<BR/>Take me across that deep blue sea<BR/><BR/>She was a force of nature, second to none<BR/>Earth, wind and fire rolled into one<BR/>Rolling thunder across the sky<BR/>Sweet Black Angel from on high<BR/>Mighty river crisscrossin' our land<BR/>Inviting everyone to stand hand-in-hand<BR/>To gather 'round and sing a song<BR/>Of hope and redemption--it won¹t be long<BR/><BR/>Oh Odetta, sing for me<BR/>Take me across that deep blue sea<BR/><BR/>You can trace her song to the heart of the South<BR/>One New Year¹s Eve and the cry from a mouth<BR/>Of a big baby girl, strong and sweet<BR/>To a tear of joy on a Mama¹s cheek<BR/>What¹s in a name? Father Time do tell<BR/>So her folks made sure to choose a name well<BR/>The name Odetta, once akin to melody,<BR/>Foretold a future--a destiny<BR/><BR/>Oh Odetta, sing for me<BR/>Take me across that deep blue sea<BR/><BR/>Odetta, she could sing before she could talk<BR/>Odetta, she could dance before she could walk<BR/>The gift of music flows through her veins<BR/>And bursts at the seams like a runaway train<BR/>Classically trained right from the start<BR/>Along came the music that stole her heart<BR/>Music of the people, music of the land<BR/>Pure and simple--noble and grand<BR/><BR/>Oh Odetta, sing for me<BR/>Take me across that deep blue sea<BR/><BR/>Straight from the "Bam" she moved out to L.A.<BR/>Then it was on to the 'Frisco Bay<BR/>She joined a theater, and started to sing<BR/>Then picked up a guitar and let it ring<BR/>Her Fate was sealed when she was still young<BR/>A folk musician she would become<BR/>To souls of the past she¹d lend her voice<BR/>May their spirits arise--and may they rejoice<BR/><BR/>Oh Odetta, sing for me<BR/>Take me across that deep blue sea<BR/><BR/>With an Afro like a halo, she could be seen<BR/>All decked out like an African Queen<BR/>And just about the time she was being discovered<BR/>The glory of her people was recovered<BR/>People flocked in to catch the new sound<BR/>As it traveled by train from town to town<BR/>Guided by a spirit that beamed a light<BR/>Black Is Beautiful--Right Is Might<BR/><BR/>Oh Odetta, sing for me<BR/>Take me across that deep blue sea<BR/><BR/>Arriving in the Village, she was given the keys<BR/>And greeted with bows on bended knees<BR/>Within weeks she was proclaimed<BR/>The Queen of Folk, and to this day she remains<BR/>The Mother Hen of folk musicians<BR/>The guardian angel of a sacred tradition<BR/>Casting her spell both day and night<BR/>Bridging the gap between black and white<BR/><BR/>Oh Odetta, sing for me<BR/>Take me across that deep blue sea<BR/><BR/>One fine hour back in '63<BR/>Odetta sang her famous Freedom Trilogy<BR/>By her side stood Martin Luther King<BR/>His "I Have A Dream" speech about to take wing<BR/>And to the whole world she sang with pride<BR/>Of freedom sought and freedom denied<BR/>As centuries of trials, troubles and tribulations<BR/>Gave rise to the dream of a... United Nation!<BR/><BR/>Oh Odetta, sing for me<BR/>Take me across that deep blue sea<BR/><BR/>Oh Odetta, sing for me<BR/>Take me across that deep blue sea<BR/>Back to the Garden whence we came<BR/>Back to the spring of your sweet refrain<BR/>"All the way to freedom land...<BR/>All the way to freedom land"<BR/>Across the skies and back through time<BR/>Back to the cradle of Humankind<BR/>...Humankind<BR/>...Humankind<BR/><BR/>And before I'll be a slave<BR/>I'll be buried in my grave<BR/><BR/>••••••<BR/><BR/>Ode To Odetta <BR/>Words and music by Stephen Alcorn ©2008<BR/><BR/>Should you wish to listen to a homespun demo, you may do so via the following links/pages of my website:<BR/><BR/>LYRICS:<BR/><BR/>http://www.alcorngallery.com/adesso//media/OdeToOdetta_lyrics.php<BR/><BR/>MP3 AUDIO DEMO:<BR/><BR/>http://www.alcorngallery.com/adesso//media/Ode-To-Odetta.mp3<BR/><BR/>ADESSO page:<BR/><BR/>http://www.alcorngallery.com/adesso//adesso_mp3_samples.php<BR/><BR/>And on a purely visual note:<BR/><BR/>MODERN MUSIC MASTERS cycle of portraits:<BR/><BR/>http://www.alcorngallery.com/rbp/relief-block-prints.php <BR/><BR/><BR/>The Alcorn Studio & Gallery<BR/>112 West Main Street<BR/>Cambridge, NY 12816<BR/>Tel. (518) 677-5798<BR/>e-mail: stephen.alcorn@verizon.net<BR/>on the web: www.alcorngallery.comStephen Alcornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14640925632394465457noreply@blogger.com