(l.allen)
Originally performed by billie holiday. jeff performed it live on air at kcrw’s man in the moonon january 1994.
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 magnoliassweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh.
Here is fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gatherfor the wind to suck
For the sun to rotfor the trees to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop.