She was born Odetta Holmes in Birmingham, Alabama, grew up in Los Angeles, California, and studied music at Los Angeles City College. Having operatic training from the age of 13, her first professional experience was in musical theater, with a touring company of the musical Finian's Rainbow in 1949.
While on tour with Finian's Rainbow, Odetta "fell in with an enthusiastic group of young balladeers", and after 1951 concentrated on folksinging. She made her name by playing around the country: at the Blue Angel nightclub (New York City), the hungry i (San Francisco), and Tin Angel (San Francisco), where she and Larry Mohr recorded Odetta and Larry in 1954, for Fantasy Records.
A solo career followed, with Odetta Sings Ballads and Blues (1956) and a live album recorded at the Gate of Horn in Chicago in 1957. Harry Belafonte included her in a nationwide television special in 1959, and Odetta Sings Folk Songs was one of 1963's best-selling folk albums.
Odetta was active in the civil rights movement and Martin Luther King, Jr. called her "the queen of American folk music". Bob Dylan and Joan Baez were among many folk musicians who credited Odetta with being a major influence on their work.
Having previous acting experience, Odetta also acted in several films, notably the film of William Faulkner's Sanctuary (1961) and The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman (1974).
On December 02, 2008, Odetta died from heart disease in New York City. She was 77 years of age.
Don't Think Twice It's All Right
Odetta Lyrics
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Miscellaneous
Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
Waylon Jennings
Notes: also performed by "Peter, Paul and Mary"
It ain't no use in calling out my name, Girl
Like you never did before
I can't hear for you any more
When the rooster crows at the break of dawn
Look out your window and I'll be gone
You're the reason why I'm traveling on
Don't think twice, it's all right
Walking down that long lonesome road, Girl
Where I'm bound, I can't tell
Good-bye is too good a word, Girl
So I'll just say Fare thee well
We'll in saying you treated me unkind
You could've done better, but I don't mind
You just sort of wasted my precious time
Don't think twice, it's all right
It ain't no use in turning on your light, Babe
That light I never knowed
And it ain't no use in turning on your light, Babe
I'm on the dark side of the road
Still I wish there were something you would do or say
Make me change my mind and stay
We never did too much talking anyway
Don't think twice, it's all right
It ain't no use to sit and wonder why, Babe
It don't matter any how
Ain't no use to sit and wonder why, Babe
If you don't know by now
I'm a thinking and a wounded all the way down the road
I once loved a woman, a child, I'm told
I gave her my heart, but she wanted my soul
Don't think twice, it's all right
Odetta's version of "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" captures the essence of heartbreak and the accompanying emotions that come with it. The lyrics delve into the after-effects of a failed relationship, with the singer explaining to their former lover that there's no point in trying to rekindle anything as it's too late for that. The opening lines "It ain't no use in calling out my name, Girl / Like you never did before" suggest that the singer is tired of trying to make things work as their ex-lover has failed to acknowledge their name when called out before. The decision to leave the relationship is final, and there's no turning back.
The lyrics are full of bitter-sweet sentiments, with "Good-bye is too good a word, Girl / So I'll just say Fare thee well" suggesting that although the relationship is over, the singer still has a soft spot for their ex-partner. This sentiment is furthered by lines such as "Still I wish there were something you would do or say / Make me change my mind and stay," revealing that the singer is still hoping for a second chance. The final lines, "I once loved a woman, a child, I'm told / I gave her my heart, but she wanted my soul / Don't think twice, it's all right" signify that the singer's former lover never appreciated their love and dedication to the relationship, and it is time for them to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
It ain't no use in calling out my name, Girl
Don't bother trying to get my attention anymore
Like you never did before
Because you never truly cared before
When the rooster crows at the break of dawn
When morning comes around
Look out your window and I'll be gone
I'll already be gone and far away
You're the reason why I'm traveling on
You're the reason I have to leave and keep moving
Don't think twice, it's all right
It's pointless to dwell on it
Walking down that long lonesome road, Girl
I'm journeying through this difficult path alone
Where I'm bound, I can't tell
I don't know where my journey will lead me
Good-bye is too good a word, Girl
Saying goodbye isn't enough to express how I feel
So I'll just say Fare thee well
I'll just say 'take care'
We'll in saying you treated me unkind
I'll admit that you weren't always kind to me
You could've done better, but I don't mind
You could have treated me better, but it doesn't matter now
You just sort of wasted my precious time
You just used up my valuable time without real intention
It ain't no use in turning on your light, Babe
I don't care if you light up your house anymore
That light I never knowed
I never cared or paid attention to it
And it ain't no use in turning on your light, Babe
No matter how you try, it won't make a difference in my decision
I'm on the dark side of the road
I'm going through a tough time and I'm alone in it
Still I wish there were something you would do or say
I still wish you could have done something to make me stay
Make me change my mind and stay
Persuade me to change my decision and stay
We never did too much talking anyway
We never really talked about important things
It ain't no use to sit and wonder why, Babe
Don't bother wasting time trying to figure out why
It don't matter any how
It doesn't matter anymore
I'm a thinking and a wounded all the way down the road
I'm hurt and thinking about it all through my journey
I once loved a woman, a child, I'm told
I once loved a woman who was inexperienced and immature
I gave her my heart, but she wanted my soul
I gave her everything, but she just wanted more and more
Don't think twice, it's all right
It's pointless to dwell on it
Writer(s): Bob Dylan
Contributed by Oliver C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Exurb1a
This will never stop being perfect
@honeycombsound2470
Had the honor to meet her at a tribute concert for Sister Rosetta. Such a kind woman.
@annamariehewitt3173
FABULOUS COVER....
@furball5553
What a treasure 😊
@chenellesimonetta1784
Amazing! I feel like I've struck gold
@jellyfishj1
simply the best
@Bugy64
Thanks exurb1a
@GerardGray
Elvis loved this album.He covered this classic.
@jamiewilliams9853
Love his verion
@GerardGray
the king could sing anything.