My Eyes Have Seen Explained

My Eyes Have Seen
Type:	studio album
Artist:	Odetta
Cover:	MyEyesHaveSeenOriginal.jpg
Caption:	Original LP cover
Genre:	Folk, blues
Length:	40:16
Label:	Vanguard
Prev Title:	At the Gate of Horn
Prev Year:	1957
Next Title:	Ballad For Americans and Other American Ballads
Next Year:	1960

My Eyes Have Seen is a studio album by American folk singer Odetta, first released in July 1959.^{[1] [2]} It is the first record by Odetta to be released by Vanguard Records.

Milt Okun arranged and conducted a choir on a portion of the songs, notably "Motherless Children", "Ox-Driver Song" and the title piece.

My Eyes Have Seen was re-released on CD in 1994.

Reception

In his review for Allmusic, critic Ronnie D. Lankford wrote of the album, "While it might be hard for a post-millennium roots fan to understand, Odetta—in her heyday—was the kind of folk artist who drove purists crazy.... My Eyes Have Seen is a nice portrait of a performer bucking conformity as she stretches her artistic legs a bit.."

Track listing

All songs Traditional unless otherwise noted.

1. "Poor Little Jesus" – 1:54
2. "Bald Headed Woman" – 2:20
3. "Motherless Children" – 2:10
4. "I Know Where I'm Going" – 2:00
5. "The Foggy Dew" (Canon Charles O’Neill) – 5:29
6. "I've Been Driving on Bald Mountain/Water Boy" (Avery Robinson) – 6:54
7. "Ox-Driver Song" – 2:35
8. "Down on Me" – 2:55
9. "Saro Jane" – 2:45
10. "Three Pigs" – 1:18
11. "No More Cane on the Brazos" – 3:38
12. "Jumpin' Judy" – 2:26
13. "Battle Hymn of the Republic" (Julia Ward Howe) – 3:52

Personnel

• Odetta Holmes – vocals, guitar
• Bill Lee – bass

Notes and References

1. News: 12 New Vanguard LP's . 25 June 2019 . The Cash Box . The Cash Box Publishing Co. Inc., NY . 18 July 1959.
2. News: My Eyes Have Seen . 25 June 2019 . The Billboard . The Billboard Publishing Co. . 27 July 1959.