The late American singer, songwriter and civil rights activist Odetta’s ‘Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child‘ was the song playing on the new Netflix documentary Heart of Invictus this week — Heart of Invictus, Episode 3, “One Step Forward, Three Steps Back“.
The song was heard on the episode as volunteer paramedic Taira (Yuliia ‘Taira’ Paievska ) and her driver drive away in her truck.
A message then flashes across the screen that both were captured by Russian troops in March, 2022 and that all communication with them was lost.
The next episode shows Taira with the Russian military, while being paraded on TV and questioned.
The Russians released her three months later.
When was Odetta’s ‘Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child‘ released?
The track itself was first performed some time in the 1870s and, since then, has become synonymous with the American civil rights movement.
The traditional Spiritual was first released by American folk and blues singer Odetta back in 1960 on her album Odetta at Carnegie Hall after she sung the song live at Carnegie Hall earlier in the year.
The song has since been recorded by a plethora of iconic artists, including Richie Havens, Paul Robeson, Boney M., Van Morrison, Billy Preston, Depeche Mode’s Martin Gore, John Legend, Tom Jones and Prince.
Listen to Odetta’s ‘Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child‘ as heard on the third episode of Heart of Invictus in the video and via Spotify below.
Heart of Invictus is now streaming via Netflix.