Odetta Gordon, who is often called “The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement,” remains in a New York City hospital, suffering from kidney failure.
The legendary folk singer, who is 77 years old, entered the hospital last Saturday (11/8) for a check-up and IV nourishment. However, on Sunday (11/9) evening, she went into kidney failure, according to a statement by her manager.
Doctors are trying to stabilize her system and prevent the weakening of her other organs. She is on dialysis to rid her body of the toxic poisons that have built up due to her failing kidneys. Her doctors said the treatment seems to be slowly working.
Gordon is expected to remain in the ICU Unit for at least another week, according to the statement.
She is coherent and talking, and determined to perform at Barack Obama’s Inauguration in January, according to family members.
Her family encourages fans to send cards to Ms. Odetta Gordon; Room #719, 7th Floor ICU Unit; Lenox Hill Hospital; 100 East 77th Street; New York, NY, 10021.
From Live Daily
Oh Odetta, sing for me
Take me across that deep blue sea
Back to the Garden whence we came
Back to the spring of your sweet refrain
“All the way to freedom land…
All the way to freedom land”
Across the skies and back through time
Back to the cradle of humankind
Oh Odetta, sing for me
Take me across that deep blue sea
She¹s a force of nature, second to none
Earth, wind and fire rolled into one
Rolling thunder across the sky
Sweet Black Angel from on high
Mighty river crisscrossin’ our land
Inviting everyone to stand hand-in-hand
To gather ’round and sing a song
Of hope and redemption–it won¹t be long
Oh Odetta, sing for me
Take me across that deep blue sea
You can trace her song to the heart of the South
One New Year¹s Eve and the cry from a mouth
Of a big baby girl, strong and sweet
To a tear of joy on a Mama¹s cheek
What¹s in a name? Father Time do tell
So her folks made sure to choose a name well
The name Odetta, once akin to melody,
Foretold a future–a destiny
Oh Odetta, sing for me
Take me across that deep blue sea
Odetta, she could sing before she could talk
Odetta, she could dance before she could walk
The gift of music flows through her veins
And bursts at the seams like a runaway train
Classically trained right from the start
Along came the music that stole her heart
Music of the people, music of the land
Pure and simple–noble and grand
Oh Odetta, sing for me
Take me across that deep blue sea
Straight from the “Bam” she moved out to L.A.
Then it was on to the ‘Frisco Bay
She joined a theater, and started to sing
Then picked up a guitar and let it ring
Her Fate was sealed when she was still young
A folk musician she would become
To souls of the past she¹d lend her voice
May their spirits arise–and may they rejoice
Oh Odetta, sing for me
Take me across that deep blue sea
With an Afro like a halo, she could be seen
All decked out like an African Queen
And just about the time she was being discovered
The glory of her people was recovered
People flocked in to catch the new sound
As it traveled by train from town to town
Guided by a spirit that beamed a light
Black Is Beautiful–Right Is Might
Oh Odetta, sing for me
Take me across that deep blue sea
Arriving in the Village, she was given the keys
And greeted with bows on bended knees
Within weeks she was proclaimed
The Queen of Folk, and to this day she remains
The Mother Hen of folk musicians
The guardian angel of a sacred tradition
Casting her spell both day and night
Bridging the gap between black and white
Oh Odetta, sing for me
Take me across that deep blue sea
One fine hour back in ‘63
Odetta sang her famous Freedom Trilogy
By her side stood Martin Luther King
His “I Have A Dream” speech about to take wing
And to the whole world she sang with pride
Of freedom sought and freedom denied
As centuries of trials, troubles and tribulations
Gave rise to the dream of a… United Nation!
Oh Odetta, sing for me
Take me across that deep blue sea
Oh Odetta, sing for me
Take me across that deep blue sea
Back to the Garden whence we came
Back to the spring of your sweet refrain
“All the way to freedom land…
All the way to freedom land”
Across the skies and back through time
Back to the cradle of Humankind
…Humankind
…Humankind
And before I¹ll be a slave
I¹ll be buried in my grave.
— “Ode To Odetta”
Words and music by Stephen Alcorn ©2008
••••
We love you, Odetta.
Be better soon!
Stephen and family
The Alcorn Studio & Gallery
112 West Main Street
Cambridge, New York 12816
Telephone: (518) 677-5798
e-mail: stephen.alcorn@verizon.net
http: http://www.alcorngallery.com
Oh Odetta, sing for me
Take me across that deep blue sea
Back to the Garden whence we came
Back to the spring of your sweet refrain
“All the way to freedom land…
All the way to freedom land”
Across the skies and back through time
Back to the cradle of humankind
Oh Odetta, sing for me
Take me across that deep blue sea
She’s a force of nature, second to none
Earth, wind and fire rolled into one
Rolling thunder across the sky
Sweet Black Angel from on high
Mighty river crisscrossin’ our land
Inviting everyone to stand hand-in-hand
To gather ’round and sing a song
Of hope and redemption–it won¹t be long
Oh Odetta, sing for me
Take me across that deep blue sea
You can trace her song to the heart of the South
One New Year¹s Eve and the cry from a mouth
Of a big baby girl, strong and sweet
To a tear of joy on a Mama¹s cheek
What¹s in a name? Father Time do tell
So her folks made sure to choose a name well
The name Odetta, once akin to melody,
Foretold a future–a destiny
Oh Odetta, sing for me
Take me across that deep blue sea
Odetta, she could sing before she could talk
Odetta, she could dance before she could walk
The gift of music flows through her veins
And bursts at the seams like a runaway train
Classically trained right from the start
Along came the music that stole her heart
Music of the people, music of the land
Pure and simple–noble and grand
Oh Odetta, sing for me
Take me across that deep blue sea
Straight from the “Bam” she moved out to L.A.
Then it was on to the ‘Frisco Bay
She joined a theater, and started to sing
Then picked up a guitar and let it ring
Her Fate was sealed when she was still young
A folk musician she would become
To souls of the past she¹d lend her voice
May their spirits arise–and may they rejoice
Oh Odetta, sing for me
Take me across that deep blue sea
With an Afro like a halo, she could be seen
All decked out like an African Queen
And just about the time she was being discovered
The glory of her people was recovered
People flocked in to catch the new sound
As it traveled by train from town to town
Guided by a spirit that beamed a light
Black Is Beautiful–Right Is Might
Oh Odetta, sing for me
Take me across that deep blue sea
Arriving in the Village, she was given the keys
And greeted with bows on bended knees
Within weeks she was proclaimed
The Queen of Folk, and to this day she remains
The Mother Hen of folk musicians
The guardian angel of a sacred tradition
Casting her spell both day and night
Bridging the gap between black and white
Oh Odetta, sing for me
Take me across that deep blue sea
One fine hour back in ‘63
Odetta sang her famous Freedom Trilogy
By her side stood Martin Luther King
His “I Have A Dream” speech about to take wing
And to the whole world she sang with pride
Of freedom sought and freedom denied
As centuries of trials, troubles and tribulations
Gave rise to the dream of a… United Nation!
Oh Odetta, sing for me
Take me across that deep blue sea
Oh Odetta, sing for me
Take me across that deep blue sea
Back to the Garden whence we came
Back to the spring of your sweet refrain
“All the way to freedom land…
All the way to freedom land”
Across the skies and back through time
Back to the cradle of Humankind
…Humankind
…Humankind
And before I¹ll be a slave
I¹ll be buried in my grave.
— “Ode To Odetta”
Words and music by Stephen Alcorn ©2008
•••••••
The Alcorn Studio & Gallery
112 West Main Street
Cambridge, New York 12816
Telephone: (518) 677-5798
e-mail: stephen.alcorn@verizon.net
http: http://www.alcorngallery.com