TREES aka Strange Fruit

by SHEILA G-LA

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about

Written by Abel Meeropol as a poem inspired by a photograph "Meeropol cited this photograph of the lynching of Thomas Shipp and Abram Smith, August 7, 1930, as inspiring his poem."

He set his lyrics to music with his wife and singer Laura Duncan and performed it as a protest song in New York City venues in the late 1930s, including Madison Square Garden. Billie Holiday made this track famous.

Extract from an Essay by Cary O’Dell

Billie Holiday Original label Abel Meeropol

Considering the vivid images and sustained metaphor of the song “Strange Fruit,” it shouldn’t be surprising that it began as a poem. It was written by Abel Meeropol (1903-1986), a teacher, poet and songwriter, who published under the name Lewis Allan.

lyrics

Southern trees bear a strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black body 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 magnolia, sweet and fresh
And the sudden smell of burning 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 a tree to drop,
Here is a strange and bitter crop.

credits

released July 25, 2020
Sung by Sheila G-La Giles.
Original Lyrics Written by Abel Meeropol
Arrangement and added Lyrics by Sheila Giles
Music Produced and recorded by Sheila Giles

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SHEILA G-LA Dublin, Ireland

THE Results from our 8 week Promotion to Music Press, Facebook & Soundcloud 36,332 PLAYS !

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