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Billie Holiday Strange Fruit Lyrics
Total views: 1 time this week / Rating: 7/10 [9 votes]Album: Jazz At The Philharmonic / Original Release Date: 1954Genre: JazzSong Duration: 2 min 54 sec
Strange Fruit
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
BILLIE HOLIDAY
- Strange Fruit LyricsSouthern 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
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
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
Facts about Strange Fruit
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Strange Fruit is written by Lewis Allan.
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It is first released in 1954 as part of Billie Holiday's album "Jazz At The Philharmonic" which includes 8 tracks in total.
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When we interpret the meaning being expressed, the song "Strange Fruit" performed by Billie Holiday illustrates in an extremely powerful and eerie way the racial slaughter and lynching that were practiced in the Southern United States. The 'strange fruit' which is described in the title and hangs on the trees is a metaphor for the cruel and non-human treatment of racism, with the verses depicting the horrible incidences in a very articulate and yet frightful way. The message carried by "Strange Fruit" lyrics speaks mainly of despair, social commentary, angst, heartbreak and anger. On the other hand, the song acts as a reminder of the past when racial violence and injustice, along with the consequent historical trauma, were at their peak. The lyrics delve deeply into violence and racial injustice, and employ powerful imagery of lynching and burning flesh which is regarded as adult content. Such material is not meant for children and hence parental guidance is necessary.
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Strange Fruit falls under the genre Jazz.
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Strange Fruit song length is 2 minutes and 54 seconds.
Who wrote Strange Fruit lyrics?
Strange Fruit is written by Lewis Allan.
✔️
When was Strange Fruit released?
It is first released in 1954 as part of Billie Holiday's album "Jazz At The Philharmonic" which includes 8 tracks in total.
✔️
What is the meaning behind Strange Fruit lyrics?
When we interpret the meaning being expressed, the song "Strange Fruit" performed by Billie Holiday illustrates in an extremely powerful and eerie way the racial slaughter and lynching that were practiced in the Southern United States. The 'strange fruit' which is described in the title and hangs on the trees is a metaphor for the cruel and non-human treatment of racism, with the verses depicting the horrible incidences in a very articulate and yet frightful way. The message carried by "Strange Fruit" lyrics speaks mainly of despair, social commentary, angst, heartbreak and anger. On the other hand, the song acts as a reminder of the past when racial violence and injustice, along with the consequent historical trauma, were at their peak. The lyrics delve deeply into violence and racial injustice, and employ powerful imagery of lynching and burning flesh which is regarded as adult content. Such material is not meant for children and hence parental guidance is necessary.
✔️
Which genre is Strange Fruit?
Strange Fruit falls under the genre Jazz.
✔️
How long is the song Strange Fruit?
Strange Fruit song length is 2 minutes and 54 seconds.
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Songwriter(s): Lewis Allan
Record Label(s): 1954 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc
Official lyrics by
Meaning to "Strange Fruit" song lyrics
(19 meanings)
jodie fourmaux October 10, 2012-15:00
oh! ive heard that song when its about when the white americans hanged the black americans on the tree! and that was in my lesson in english when we're watching Holes
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oh! ive heard that song when its about when the white americans hanged the black americans on the tree! and that was in my lesson in english when we're watching Holes
judy September 5, 2012-9:56
this song was written by a nothern Jewish teacher who was greatly troubled by a linching in the south. he had to leave teaching becausse he was accused of being a communist because of his caring.
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this song was written by a nothern Jewish teacher who was greatly troubled by a linching in the south. he had to leave teaching becausse he was accused of being a communist because of his caring.
Further11 May 22, 2012-10:48
Insanely powerful. First heard it sung by Nina Simone. Both these ladies convey such pain and tragedy in their performances. Cruel injustice is as old as history and has not ended. Peace to all.
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Insanely powerful. First heard it sung by Nina Simone. Both these ladies convey such pain and tragedy in their performances. Cruel injustice is as old as history and has not ended. Peace to all.
margaret May 14, 2012-10:39
corrections..Ln 4. Strange fruit hanging from the POPLAR trees..Last line. Here is a strange and bitter CROP...Respect to you and yours, Ms Holiday
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corrections..Ln 4. Strange fruit hanging from the POPLAR trees..Last line. Here is a strange and bitter CROP...Respect to you and yours, Ms Holiday
Nobody January 26, 2012-22:59
Powerful words from a sad and shameful time. Don't have to be an ignorant racist from the 50's to have something to learn from it.... Lyrics should read 'poplar trees' and 'strange and bitter crop'.
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Powerful words from a sad and shameful time. Don't have to be an ignorant racist from the 50's to have something to learn from it.... Lyrics should read 'poplar trees' and 'strange and bitter crop'.
Seno December 16, 2011-23:52
When Billie Holiday went on a tour in the South, she witnessed these bodies of the africans hanging dead in the trees.These people were killed by the KKK, and so Billie wrote this song 'Strange Fruit'
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When Billie Holiday went on a tour in the South, she witnessed these bodies of the africans hanging dead in the trees.These people were killed by the KKK, and so Billie wrote this song 'Strange Fruit'
sop December 5, 2011-14:19
You should do something about the HITLERMAN. This is a racist and insufferable comment! Of cours it's all about the KKK
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You should do something about the HITLERMAN. This is a racist and insufferable comment! Of cours it's all about the KKK
kate December 1, 2011-13:02
this song is really sad and speaks to my heart i just think of all those poor innocent people that got killed i want to cry
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this song is really sad and speaks to my heart i just think of all those poor innocent people that got killed i want to cry
nial September 20, 2011-13:11
no its about dead people hanging on trees and they stay there to get picked at by the birds in till they get removed from the trees
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no its about dead people hanging on trees and they stay there to get picked at by the birds in till they get removed from the trees
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This song, 70 years after it was written, still rings true today by the way we still treat our black brothers.