Friday, November 14, 2008

Odetta hospitalized 11/8/08

On Saturday, she went into Lenox Hill Hospital for a check-up and IV nourishment. However, on Sunday evening she went into kidney failure, and we were told that the next 24 hours would determine if she would survive. Miraculously, she made it through that emergency, but is still listed in critical condition. I was on the road when she went in the hospital and rushed back on Sunday. Jan and I are thankful that Michelle was here and has been by Odetta's side every moment of this ordeal.

Odetta believes she is going to sing at Obama's Inauguration, and I believe that is the reason she is still alive. She has a big poster of Barack Obama taped on the wall across from her bed. Her old heart has already outperformed and lasted far beyond the expectations of the heart specialists who treated her in January-March 2007 when she had her last health crisis while touring out West. Now compounded with the kidney failure, the doctors at the hospital are trying to do everything possible to stabilize her system and prevent the weakening of her other organs. They have her on dialysis now to rid the body of the toxic poisons that have built up, and it seems to be slowly working. She is sleeping a lot, but after a dialysis treatment and some food, she is coherent and talking. She is not in pain. We are told that she will be in the ICU Unit for at least another week, and that we'll just have to wait and see after that. All of you are well aware of Odetta's indomitable spirit. Accordingly, I wouldn't bet against her singing for Barack in January!

If you would like to send a card, I know that she would love to hear from you (address of the hospital is below).

Ms. Odetta Gordon
Room # 719, 7th Floor ICU Unit
LENOX HILL HOSPITAL
100 East 77th Street
New York, NY 10021

1 comment:

Stephen Alcorn said...

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