Strange Fruit

Southern trees bear a 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 magnolia 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