Music Video

Billie Holiday - "Strange Fruit" Live 1959 [Reelin' In The Years Archives]
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Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Vocals
Sonny White
Sonny White
Piano
Tab Smith
Tab Smith
Alto Saxophone
Eddie Dougherty
Eddie Dougherty
Drums
Stanley Payne
Stanley Payne
Tenor Saxophone
Frankie Newton
Frankie Newton
Trumpet
Jimmy McLin
Jimmy McLin
Guitar
John Williams
John Williams
Bass
Kenneth Hollon
Kenneth Hollon
Tenor Saxophone
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Lewis Allen
Lewis Allen
Songwriter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Milt Gabler
Milt Gabler
Producer

Lyrics

Southern trees bear strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swingin' in the Southern breeze
Strange fruit hangin' from the poplar trees
Pastoral scene of the gallant South
The bulgin' eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolias, sweet 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 tree to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop
Written by: Lewis Allan
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