Week #16 Odetta Cover Songs (2)

Author

Lisa Peterson
April 12, 2026

Week #16

Odetta Cover Songs

This is week 16 of the year and we will be celebrating Odetta Cover Songs, by delving into the songs and applying concepts to create more joy and connection during caregiving routines with music.

The songs are:

  • Battle Hymn of the Republic

  • Greensleeves

  • House of the Rising Sun

  • Hush Little Baby

  • Midnight Special

  • On Top of Old Smokey

  • This Little Light of Mine

  • We Shall Overcome

SING ALONG

Featured Song

WE SHALL OVERCOME

“We Shall Overcome” is a song with African American spiritual origins that became a protest song during the civil rights movement. The song has a varied history, including words from the hymn “I’ll Overcome Some Day,” written in 1900 by Charles Albert Tindley. Its prominence as an unofficial civil rights anthem can be traced back to 1945 when Lucille Simmons, an African American woman and union leader, led a different version of the song titled “We’ll Overcome (I’ll be All Right)” to close each day of picketing. In the 1960s, folk artists such as Pete Seeger and Joan Baez sang “We Shall Overcome” at civil rights protests, including the March on Washington in 1963. The song has continued to be used in various polit-ical and labor movements around the world.

  • Is this melody familiar to you?

  • Are the words familiar?

  • Did you find yourself humming along?

  • How did it affect you? Did your awareness change? Your breath? Your focus? Your mood?

  • Would you feel comfortable playing this in the background and allow yourself to hum or sing along? By yourself and/or with the one(s) you care for?

We Shall Overcome Here is Odetta’s version. I hope you enjoy it!

Creative Ideas

HOW TO USE THE MUSIC

  • Try humming or singing along with the provided recording, or one of your choosing for increased feeling of ______.

  • Listen to a recording to create a shared experience.

  • Listen while engaged in daily routines, to add a feeling of familiarity and comfort (if the song is known and loved)

  • Try reminiscing with the song history, or singers of the song. Look at pictures famous singers who performed the song.

SELF-CARE TIPS

Listen to Nature Sounds

Listen to music or nature sounds to help you relax before bed. Try this music or something you might like better. There are many free options on YouTube. Listening to music or nature sounds for 5-10 minutes before bed, while focusing on your breathing can help your body and mind to slow down and prepare for sleep.

Share how this was for you at: [email protected]

Subscribe to Sing & Remember to read the rest...

Join the "Sing & Remember" program to access this post, and 52 weekly messages to support you and your loved ones on your memory loss journey.

Already a paying subscriber? Sign In.