Strange Fruit
Cassandra Wilson Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

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.

Overall Meaning

Cassandra Wilson's song "Strange Fruit" is a haunting and powerful rendition of a poem, originally written by Abel Meeropol. The lyrics paint a vivid and disturbing picture of the lynching of black men in the southern United States. The first verse describes the bodies hanging from trees, with blood on the leaves and at the roots. The words "strange fruit" are a chilling metaphor for the brutal and inhumane treatment of black people.


The second verse creates a stark contrast between the idyllic scenery of the southern landscape and the horrific acts of violence that take place there. The "gallant south" is described as a pastoral scene, with the scent of magnolias in the air. But then, abruptly, we are confronted with the smell of burning flesh. This image is particularly haunting, as it suggests that the brutalization of black bodies is so common that it has become a familiar part of the southern landscape.


Line by Line Meaning

Southern trees bear strange fruit,
The trees in the southern United States produce a terrible and terrifying sight.


Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,
Every part of the tree - leaves and roots - show the signs of racial violence.


Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze,
A grotesque display of lynched black bodies dancing in the wind.


Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.
The human bodies hanging from the trees are a strange and unusual sight.


Pastoral scene of the gallant south,
A picturesque countryside of the brave and chivalrous southern way of life.


The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth,
But beneath the surface there is the horror in the eyes and the contorted face of lynch victims.


Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh,
The sweetness of magnolia flowers in the air.


Then the sudden smell of burning flesh.
The sudden and overwhelming odor of human flesh being burned.


Here is fruit for the crows to pluck,
The hanging black bodies become food for scavenging crows.


For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck,
The elements of nature create a cycle around the hanging bodies.


For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop,
The dead bodies become food for insects and the trees eventually drop them.


Here is a strange and bitter crop.
The phrase 'strange fruit' is a metaphorical representation of the abnormal practice of lynching the African American community.




Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lewis Allen

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Joyce Ulmer

chill factor.  they need to give this woman the grammy for best album of the year.

With True Nicks

One of THE best versions of Strange Fruit. The instrumentals matched so well with her vocals. Absolutely haunting and heart-wrenching.

Norma Roseman

The vocals and instrumentation are so beautifully delivered this rendition totally wiped out the pain, depth and seriousness of the fruit. Doesn't even hint in presentation the sheer evilness of man's inhumanity to man. Pretty song.

tomtheeagle1

This would move a statue to tears. Superb reworking of a classic song she has done brilliantly before.

Ernie Florence

OMG! This lady just gets better and better! This is incredible! Cant wait to see her next Thursday nite performing these songs! A musical genius!

John Rasmussen

Wow. Love her voice, and the arrangement is beautifully done!

camil williams

This is as dope as her first rendition of the song. CW is exquisite!!!

Christopher Miller

Really?

samamuusa

This calmed my heart. Cassandra's interpretation is like a cream for tired heart.

timkjazz

Put quite simply, she is the best there is today.

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