Folk legend Odetta died last night at the age of 77. She lent her voice to the civil rights movement and to folk music with a clear voice and straightforward but powerful singing style. From the Washington Post:

[Pete] Seeger and singer Harry Belafonte were numbered among her earliest advocates. In addition, she was recognized as an important influence on the careers of other famous figures of the musical world.

These included the Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Joan Baez and Joan Armatrading, all of whom have often been cited as performers who owed much to her inspiration. "I'm the mama and they're the children," Odetta once said, when asked about who had influenced whom.

Much folk music is of interest to kids. If you'd like to introduce yours to Odetta, you might try the "best of" collection Ballads and Blues. Head over to Amazon to listen to samples, and make sure to listen to "The Fox." We first discovered this song in a rollicking version by Wee Hairy Beasties (on their excellent album Animal Crackers, which we reviewed on Z Recommends last year). As vegetarians who also sheltered our then three-year-old daughter from scenes of violence pretty effectively, this song came as a bit of a shock. Not to Z - she dived right in and relished the thrill of the hunt along with the foxy protagonist.

Here are the lyrics:

The fox went out to the chase one night
Prayed to the moon to give him light
He had many a mile to go that night
Before he reached the town-o, town-o town-o,
Many a mile to go that night before he reached the town
Many a mile to go that night before he reached the town

He ran 'til he came to a great big pen
Where the ducks and the geese were kept there in
Said a couple of you gonna grease my chin
Before I leave this town o, town o, town o
Couple of you gonna grease my chin before I leave this town
Couple of you gonna grease my chin before I leave this town

He grabbed the grey goose by the neck
Throwed a duck across his back
He didn't amind with the quack, quack quack
And the legs all dang-ling down-o, down-o, down-o
Didn't amind with the quack, quack quack
And the legs all dang-ling down-o, down-o, down-o
Didn't amind with the quack, quack quack
And the legs all dang-ling down-o, down-o, down-o

Old mother Flipper Flapper jumped out of bed
Out of the window she cocked her head
Cryin' John, John the grey goose is gone
And the fox is on the town-o, town-o, town-o
John, John the grey goose is gone
And the fox is on the town-o
John, John the grey goose is gone
And the fox is on the town-o

Well, the fox he came to his own den
There were the little ones, eight, nine, ten
Saying Daddy you better go back again
'Cause it must be a mighty fine town-o, town-o, town-o
Saying Daddy you better go back again
'Cause it must be a mighty fine town
Saying Daddy you better go back again
'Cause it must be a mighty fine town

Well, the fox and his wife without any strife
Cut up the goose with a carving knife
They never had such a supper in their life
And the little ones chewed on the bones-o, bones-o, bones-o
Never had such a supper in their life
And the little ones chewed on the bones
Never had such a supper in their life
And the little ones chewed on the bones

And here's the song.



Odetta's version of "The Fox" is also included on the compilation Folk Songs For Kids, which you can also listen to samples of (and download) in mp3 format. It includes tracks by Lightnin' Hopkins, Glenn Yarbrough, Leadbelly, and a bunch of others, as well as an additional recording of "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands" by Odetta.

Photograph of Odetta (L), Sidney Poitier (2L), and Harry Belafonte (R) copyright Time Inc. - Jeremiah