Actually, its a song about the lynchings that took place in the south. The "strange fruit" refers to the bodies of the lynched men swinging from the branches. It was very controversial - especially given the era when she started singing it, but it turned into one of Billie Holliday's hits. Here are the lyrics:
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.
Thank you, Harley..I did not know the story behind the song. I will hear that song differently from now on.. I do have the Cd of Billie Holiday's Greatest Hits :
1 Easy Living 2 What is this thing called love? 3 Solitude 4 You're My thrill 5 Them there eyes 6 No more 7 God Bless The child 8 My Man 9 Don't Explain 10There is no greater love 11T'aint Nobody's Business but my own 12You Better go now 13Big Stuff 14GoodMorning, Heartache 15I Loves you Porgy 16Guilty 17Lover man 18Crazy He calls me 19 That ole Devil called love
I listened carefully to the lyrics of "My Man", and I believe it is about a man beating his wife..and that is very sad.
