“Strange Fruit” was a definitely an effectively powerful song. Popular Song Lyrics. But they might not realize that he's also tied to another watershed moment in America's history. If the historical background of the song was not known and the words “black bodies” were removed from the lyrics, the song may have appeared to be a song merely against violence. But he couldn't bring himself to just kill them. The author appeals to the senses by describing the beautiful scenery with attractive, gentle words followed by the use of strong loaded words, such as “burning flesh” and “bulging eyes” which illustrates the shocking and terrifying sight of the lynched bodies hanging in the trees and adds to the overall impact of the song. The lyrics are simple, yet they paint a vivid picture of the horrendous brutality many black people faced in that time. There is a good explanation there, but basically it is a protest against lynchings. What a … Pastoral scene of the gallant South. The Rosenbergs had also been Communists. "They're these little boys and they're wearing these caps, and they look so young and so vulnerable. Julius and Ethel Rosenberg are taken to prison after being found guilty of nuclear espionage. The government’s reaction is also a … Many people know that the man who wrote the song was inspired by a photograph of a lynching. The song has been called "a declaration of war" and "the beginning of the civil rights movement". Abel Meeropol watches as his sons, Robert and Michael, play with a train set. Thanks! In fact, there is a way to get an original essay! They had not — but, like many New York teachers in his day, Meeropol was a Communist. "Abel Meeropol's pen name 'Lewis Allan' were the names of their children who were stillborn, who never lived," says his son, Robert Meeropol. Analysis Of The Song “Strange Fruit” By Billie Holiday “Strange fruit” as sung by Billie Holiday, is a protest song about the lynching of black people and uncovers the brutality of racism and violence in South America. Music was a powerful and effective tool to protest racial discrimination. The song begins with “southern trees bear strange fruit. Keystone/Getty Images Anne Meeropol plays a song on guitar for her sons, Robert and Michael. In the lyrics, black victims are portrayed as “strange fruit,” as they hang from trees, rotting in the sun, blowing in the wind, and becoming food for crows upon being burned. The words “strange” and “bitter crop” implies that something in the picture, as vividly portrayed by the lyrics, does not belong and begins to illustrate the point that lynching was a disgrace to humanity and that it did not belong in society. Black bodies swingin’ in the Southern breeze. When Holiday decided to sing "Strange Fruit," the song reached millions of people. Billie Holiday first performed “Strange Fruit” in 1939 at Café Society, New York City’s first integrated jazz club, after reportedly being introduced to the song by the club’s founder. Request writing assistance from a top writer in the field! The song was "Strange Fruit," a haunting critique of lynching and race terrorism in the American South. BILLIE HOLIDAY LYRICS – STRANGE FRUIT Southern trees bear a strange fruit. At the time, the Rosenberg sons, Robert and Michael, were 6 and 10, respectively. Good Morning Heartache (1956 Version) 5. But American Communism, one point it had in its favor was that it was concerned about civil rights very early.". Good Morning Heartache: 4. Lyrics to "Strange Fruit" on Lyrics.com. Shmoop guide to Strange Fruit lyrics. It protests the lynching of Black Americans, with lyrics that compare the victims to the fruit of trees. "I was the official lawnmower," Robert says, "and I was going to mow over them, and he said, 'Oh, no, you can't kill the seedlings!' "Things like that weren't talked about. The song uses metaphors and juxtapositions to fully illustrate the violence and racism of South America in that time. Then, at a Christmas party at the home of W.E.B. God Bless the Child (1956 Version) 3. 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. image caption April Shipp has … The pleasing nature of the one half of the contrasting pair is outweighed by the devastating nature of the other half. … He was a white Jewish communist man who wrote the poem after seeing photographs of the horrific lynching of black men which haunted him for days. A few weeks later, they were living with them. It’s quick and easy! 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! Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Harris April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959) was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Even family members were fearful of being in any way associated with the Rosenbergs or Communism. "Strange Fruit" is a song recorded by Billie Holiday in 1939, written by Abel Meeropol and published in 1937. It was just something he couldn't do.". “Strange fruit” as sung by Billie Holiday, is a protest song about the lynching of black people and uncovers the brutality of racism and violence in South America. In its title, Strange Fruit refers to the song of a lynching made famous by Billie Holiday and to the malign persecution that drove Kamau Brathwaite from his New York home to resettlement in his native Barbados. There are dozens of them. Abel Meeropol died in 1986. Meeropol once said the photograph "haunted" him "for days." Found a great essay sample but want a unique one? They're also both involved in social issues. The lyrics are correct on Billie Holiday's lyric list. The song was first written as a poem by Abel Meerpol and was published in 1937. Just send us a request “Write my paper”. Courtesy of Robert and Michael Meeropol He was also a poet and a social activist, says Gerard Pelisson, who wrote a book about the school. Such lynchings had reached a peak in the Southern United States at the turn of the 20th century, and the great majority of victims were black. I said, 'What are you going to do with them, Dad? Courtesy of Robert and Michael Meeropol One of Billie Holiday's most iconic songs is "Strange Fruit," a haunting protest against the inhumanity of racism. I needed to find a social justice issue in song or art form, so i decided to choose this song because to me it has to be one of the most powerful songs. And he says that even after all these years, he still finds himself unable to kill things in his own garden. "Strange Fruit" was originally a poem. Abel Meeropol watches as his sons, Robert and Michael, play with a train set. They were subsequently executed. Lyrics. Miller says he was surprised to learn the song was written by a white Jewish guy from the Bronx. was inspired by a photograph of a lynching, Looking For Lady Day's Resting Place? An amateur composer, Meeropol also set his words to music. Billie Holiday, “Strange Fruit” Source: William P. Gottlieb “Strange Fruit” was written by Abel Meeropol, a white English teacher from New York City, as a protest against the horrors of lynching. God Bless The Child: 2. Strange Fruit. He played it for a New York club owner — who ultimately gave it to Billie Holiday. James Baldwin went there. Detour Ahead. Meaning. And there were hundreds of them. In 1999, Time magazine voted Strange Fruit the Song of the Century. Upcoming Lyrics. The song is comparing black people to the strange fruit, calling them a “bitter crop”. We are glad that you like it, but you cannot copy from our website. A routine evolved where she would close her set with ‘Strange Fruit’, while all the lights were turned off save for a lone spot shining on her face. Strange fruit hangin’ from the poplar trees. Robert founded the Rosenberg Fund for Children. Strange Fruit Break Down Strange fruit is an amazing dark poem that was sung by Billie Holiday as a very powerful deep meaning song. "First of all, Abel, what I remember about him as a 6-year-old was that he was a real jokester. “Strange Fruit” is a testament to the power of music as an impetus for social change. The "strange fruit" referred to in the song are the bodies of African American men being hanged during a lynching. In 1939, at the height of the Jim Crow era, a … Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were sentenced to death for conspiring to give atomic secrets to the Soviet Union. Just insert your email and this sample will be sent to you. Billie Holiday was introduced to the song by Meeropol himself in 1939, and took to performing it during her residency at Cafe Society in New York’s Greenwich Village. Billie Holiday - Four By Four Album Lyrics; 1. Strange Fruit by Billy Holiday 1351 Words | 6 Pages. He liked to tell silly jokes and play word games, and he would put on these comedy shows that would leave me rolling.". Southern trees bear strange fruit Blood on the leaves and blood at the root Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze Strange fruit hangi. News accounts described it as "the first husband and wife to die in the electric chair.". Want to receive original paper on this topic? Meeropol graduated from Dewitt Clinton in 1921; he went on to teach English there for 17 years. Billie Holiday first performed the song in 1939 in Café Society even though she was fearful of retaliation. "The '60s hadn't happened yet," he says. There is a deeper meaning to this song, so those of you who know it, please reply! Julius and Ethel Rosenberg are taken to prison after being found guilty of nuclear espionage. As recounted in the work of author David Margolick (Strange Fruit: Billie Holiday and the Biography of a Song), Joel Katz’s 2002 documentary Strange Fruit, and … They were subsequently executed. Interpretation and context of Strange Fruit lyrics, analyzed by PhD and Masters students from Stanford, Harvard, Berkeley Billie Holiday. We recall Holiday’s “Strange Fruit”, a musical protest against this country’s white supremacist violence. Billie Holiday's version eventually sold more than a million copies. Meaning to "Strange Fruit" song lyrics (18 meanings) Holiday may have popularized "Strange Fruit" and turned it into a work of art, but it was a Jewish communist teacher and … "Strange Fruit," he says, took extraordinary courage both for Meeropol to write and for Holiday to sing. hide caption. It was the height of McCarthyism. For example, there was an old Japanese maple tree in their backyard, which sent out many new seedlings every year. BILLIE HOLIDAY Strange Fruit Lyrics. Strange Fruit is a terrifying protest against the inhumane acts of racism. July 17 marks the 59th anniversary of Billie Holiday’s death. Analysis Of The Song “Strange Fruit” By Billie Holiday. In 1940, Meeropol was called to testify before a committee investigating communism in public schools. Meeropol left his teaching job at Dewitt Clinton in 1945. The man behind "Strange Fruit" is New York City's Abel Meeropol, and he really has two stories. The use of the words “strange fruit” is used as a metaphor comparing the fruit and the lynched bodies hanging from the tree. Anne Meeropol plays a song on guitar for her sons, Robert and Michael. 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. Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Harris April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959) was an American jazz singer and songwriter. The next line reveals the subject and underlying meaning of the song. Her name was Billie Holiday. However, the specific reference to black people indicates the song is about racial discrimination and the violence against black people. The Library of Congress put it in the National Recording Registry. So he wrote a poem about it, which was then printed in a teachers union publication. By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Billie Holiday – Strange Fruit Lyrics. Billie Holiday. Influence Of Music On People's Health & Intellect Essay, Analysis Of Trap And Pop Music Genres Essay, Comparison Of The Lyrics Of Troubadours’ And British Pop Artists’ Love Songs Essay, Review Of We Didn’T Start The Fire By Billy Joel Essay, The Analysis Of Kiran Desai’S "Hullabaloo In The Guava Orchard" Essay. The club's founder had heard a powerful new protest song written by Lewis Allan, the pen name of Jewish high school teacher and left-wing activist named Abel Meeropol. from album: At Jazz At The Philharmonic (1954) Southern trees bear a 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. "One of the most remarkable things was how quickly we adapted," Robert says. hide caption. Top Lyrics of 2011. Strange Fruit (1956 Version) 7. Lyrics to 'Strange Fruit' by Billie Holiday: 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. We will occasionally send you account related emails. He and his older brother, Michael, were raised by Abel and his wife, Anne Meeropol, after the boys' parents — Ethel and Julius Rosenberg — were executed for espionage in 1953. Courtesy of Robert and Michael Meeropol In the late 1930s, Pellison says, Meeropol "was very disturbed at the continuation of racism in America, and seeing a photograph of a lynching sort of put him over the edge.". Lynching was a practice that involved mob-style execution without trial, most often by hanging, and most often of … The bulgin’ eyes and the twisted mouth. Blood on the leaves and blood at the root”. LittleBriddie on April 20, 2004 Link Lyrics to "Strange Fruit" on Lyrics.com. Turn to our writers and order a plagiarism-free paper. To get a custom and plagiarism-free essay ⚠️ Remember: This essay was written and uploaded by an average student. Terms of service and  The extreme imagery, deep emotional lyrics, and slow melancholic tone creates a powerful message that forces the listener to face the reality of racial injustice. There is something else about Abel Meeropol that seems to connect the man who wrote "Strange Fruit" to the man who created a loving family out of a national scandal. They wanted to know whether the American Communist Party had paid him to write the song. 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. His sons, Robert and Michael, both became college professors. He eventually quit the Communist Party. The link is the pseudonym he used when writing poetry and music: Lewis Allan. Blood on the leaves and blood at the root. It's really a very poignant image," says Margolick. The juxtaposition of the beautiful serene landscape and the “scent of magnolia, sweet and fresh”, with “bulging eyes” and “burning flesh”, gives a strong emotional feeling to the song and again contrasts life with death, positive with negative, and peaceful with grim. 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