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Strange Fruit Lyrics

Artist: Nina Simone
Album: Pastel Blues

Lewis Allen, Sonny White

Southern trees
Bear 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 suck
For the sun to rot
For the leaves to drop
Here is
Strange and bitter crop

As singed 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 suck,
For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop,
Here is a strange and bitter cry.

Comments/Interpretations

by Maria L. Smith on 11/17/2009 1:14am
This song touches me extremely deep! My soul quivers and my eyes flush each and every time as if I never heard it before.I visualize the images as if they were right before me.

by Carolyn Y. Bussey on 7/18/2014 8:50am
Something that haunts you down to the bone. So visual. I've heard versions by both Nina & Billie, and all you want to do is hang your head and wail.