225. Strange Fruit (1939)
Lewis Allan
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1939 | MT | 117 | Complete Commodore v.1 | 1 | 3’10” |
Southern trees bear a strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swinging in the Southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar treesPastoral scene of the gallant South
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolia sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning fleshHere is the fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather for the wind to suck
For the sun to rot for the tree to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop
2nd version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1939 | AT | 117a | Complete Commodore v.1 | 2 | 3’18” |
Southern trees bear a strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swinging in the Southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar treesPastoral scene of the gallant South
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolia sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning fleshHere is the fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather for the wind to suck
For the sun to rot for the tree to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop
3rd version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1945 | LR | 24 | Complete on Verve v.1 | 2 | 2’56” |
(Billie Holiday intro)
Southern trees bear a strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swinging in the Southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar treesPastoral scene of the gallant South
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolia sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning fleshHere is the fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather for the wind to suck
For the sun to rot for the tree to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop
4th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1945 | LR | 88 | Perfect Complete Collection v.4 | 20 | 3’20” |
(Billie introduces the song:
“By request, it was written specially for me, it’s title is Strange Fruit)
Southern trees bear a strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swinging in the Southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar treesPastoral scene of the gallant South
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolia sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning fleshHere is the fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather for the wind to suck
For the sun to rot for the tree to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop(applauses)
5th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1945 | MT | 277 | Complete on Verve vol.7 | 5 | 3’01” |
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 treesPastoral scene of the gallant South
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolia sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning fleshHere is the fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather for the wind to suck
For the sun to rot for the tree to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop
6th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1959 | LR | 223 | Perfect Complete Collection v.12 | 14 | 2’45” |
(Billie introduces next song: “and now a little tune written specially for me: 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 poplar treesPastoral scene of the gallant South
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolia sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning fleshHere is the fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather for the wind to suck
For the sun to rot for the tree to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop(applauses)
Notes |
Billie was the first to sing this song, as it was composed specially for her.