5104 - Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit"

A powerful song that I have recently stumbled upon is "Strange Fruit" written by Abel Meeropol and performed by Billie Holiday. The influence for the writing of this song originated from the horrific events that were taking place in the southern states of the U.S, the lynching of African-American citizens during the 1930's.

(Music performance video below)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4ZyuULy9zs

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 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 crop.




This song was groundbreaking for anti-racist and equal rights campaigners all over the United States. This form of activism in music/spoken word created a strong and vivid message to the people who perpetuated in the lynching and discrimination of African-Americans. These straight forward lyrics has influenced me to consider writing poetic text within the oil painting in order to make my message loud and clear to the viewers.



Source:
http://www.shmoop.com/strange-fruit/meaning.html