STRANGE FRUIT

Southern trees bear strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the popular trees

Pastoral scene of the gallant south
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh

Here is fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck
For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop
Here is a strange and bitter cry
-----BILLIE HOLIDAY------

LINK TO B.H'S PERFORMANCE OF STRANGE FRUIT. POWERFUL!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4ZyuULy9zs

Author's Note

I DID NOT WRITE THIS. IT WAS FIRST WRITTEN AS A POEM BY ABEL MEEROPOL. THEN IT WAS SUNG BY ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVE JAZZ/BLUES SINGERS BILLIE HOLIDAY. THIS IS THE CREEPIEST SONG EVER! WHAT R UR THOUGHTS ON IT?

Reviews

[BLACK PRINCE]

Yeah, this song talks of when white people used to hang Black people simply for being Black, out of jealousy, hatred and envy. white people would hang Black people on trees, simply for being Black.

Billie Holiday captures this gruesome savagery perfectly in this song.

THANKS FOR SHARING THIS SAD TRUTH.

THE TRUTH IS NEEDED. NO NEED TO HIDE HISTORY.

[Art Sun]

I had heard this song before and it is a very factual piece...not everyone will admit it but racism still flourishes within this country and for that matter across the globe...I feel that a hundred years from today it will still exist...

[Neva Flores Smith - Cha..]

OMG! It sounds to me like they were going to hang Billie Holiday from a tree......Jeez!

[Winslow Des Totes]

I honestly don't think I've ever heard this song. Thanks for putting it up though, I'm going to look it up. :)

I've heard of Holiday, but never heard this song.. great poetry though I'd say though, couldn't think of it as lyrics though until I've heard it I guess though. It has really great flow when read straight. And the imagery is amazing. It's really got a mossy southern cypress marshy personality. Sounds like the days of plantations being the big thing back when. But yes, it's pretty damn good poetry I must say.

[EMF]

I've loved this song for years, so when I saw the title I just had to look. Really nice to see you shared the lyrics with us. Thank you

[roy mccarthy]

im a big billie holiday fan!
was just gonna call you out for stealin the lyrics!
then i saw her name at the end!
very good song,sad of course,
i was only listening to her today while i was driving around!

[EMMIE]

I THINK RACISM IS VERY ALIVE TODAY. LOOK AROUND US. ALMOST EVERYTHING IS ABOUT RACE RACE RACE. SADLY REALITY IS CRUEL AND THE WORLD IS A REALLY COLD BEING. THIS SONG PRETTY MUCH SUMS IT ALL UP. I THINK IT BRINGS SO MUCH AWARENESS ABOUT THE TOPIC OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN OR ANY RACE'S SLAVERY TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS. STRANGE FRUIT. IT'S A PRETTY GROSS IMAGERY. SAD MORE THEN ANYTHING ELSE.

[Coyote Poetry]

Billie Holiday was advance for her time. Using words to open minds willing to listen. The description in this poem can lead to many places. Could break down each set of lines and find a story hidden. Last lines are my favorite. Than you for bringing to life words of a talented woman.
Coyote

[Dahlia Phoenix]

I believe this is talking about back in the day when racism was pretty much alive. African Americans were murdered or even hung in trees, treated like slaves for the white supremacy. That was the saddest part. But these lyrics do add up to a good song. Great piece emmie.