Strange Fruit - Billie Holiday Lyrics

Strange Fruit
by Lewis Allen, Sonny White

Seven trees
Bearin' strange fruit
Blood on the leaves
And blood at the roots
Black bodies
Swinging in the southern breeze
Strange fruit hangin'
From the poplar trees
Pastoral scene
Of the gallant south
Them big bulging eyes
And the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolia
Clean and fresh
Then the sudden smell
Of burnin' flesh
Here is a fruit
For the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather
For the wind to s*ck
For the sun to rot
For the leaves to drop
Here is
Strange and bitter crop

As sung by Billie Holiday

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 poplar 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 s*ck,
For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop,
Here is a strange and bitter cry.

Various Artists - Billy Crystal Presents: The Milt Gabler

Dec 2024

1. (We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock
2. Blueberry Hill - Louis Armstrong
3. Choo Choo Ch' Boogie
4. Danke Schöen - Wayne Newton
5. Dream a Little Dream of Me - Louis Armstrong
6. Fine and Mellow - Billie Holiday
7. Flying Home - Lionel Hampton
8. Glow-Worm
9. Goodnight Irene
10. Hey There - Sammy Davis, Jr.
11. It Takes Two To Tango - Pearl Bailey
12. L-O-V-E - Nat King Cole
13. Little Things Mean a Lot - Kitty Kallen
14. Love Is Just Around the Corner - Eddie Condon
15. Lover
16. Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?) - Billie Holiday
17. MacNamara's Band - Bing Crosby
18. Oh, Lady, Be Good!
19. Rum and Coca-Cola
20. Strange Fruit - Billie Holiday
21. That's a Plenty
22. Them There Eyes
23. Three Coins in the Fountain
24. You'll Never Know - Dick Haymes
25. You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You - Roberta Sherwood