Strange Fruit: Billie Holiday and the Biography of a Song – The Essential History of Jazz, Lynching, and Civil Rights in America

by David Margolick, Hilton Als

Learn the story behind the song performed by Andra Day in "United States vs. Billie Holiday" now on Hulu Recorded by jazz legend Billie Holiday in 1939, “Strange Fruit” is considered the first significant song of the Civil Rights movement and the first direct assault against racial lynchings in the South. First sung in New York’s Café Society, these revolutionary lyrics have taken up a life of their own, as David Margolick discusses in his revealing account of the song and the struggle it came to personify. Voted the “Song of the Century"” by Time, “Strange Fruit” is a searing evocation of lynching. And when Billie Holiday sang it, she held audiences in rapt attention, moving some to tears, others to anger, and all to a heightened awareness of the racist violence that was still, nearly a century after the Civil War, taking the lives of African Americans. Now, David Margolick’s account cuts away the myths that have grown up around both Holiday and her most famous song, allowing readers to discover the true origins of “Strange Fruit"” and the circuitous paths it took to the center of a nation’s conscience. Margolick establishes the political and cultural context that surrounded “Strange Fruit” in 1939—a year in which there were three recorded lynchings and suspicion of many others, and which saw the publication of Gone with the Wind—and traces the song’s journey through the red-baiting 50s and the incipient Civil Rights movement of the 60s, right up to the reverence it still inspires today. Along the way, Margolick includes commentary and reaction to the song from black and white audiences of different eras, and writers and musicians as varied as Lena Horne, Paul Robeson, Pauline Kael, Charles Mingus, Cassandra Wilson, Maya Angelou, among others. Exploring the intricate nexus between jazz, race, and politics, Strange Fruit opens a window onto an extraordinary song, the woman who sang it, and the role it played in our culture’s evolving consciousness of racism.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, History, Biography, Jazz, African American, American History

168 pages, Paperback

Published January 23, 2001

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

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.

The song that many cite as starting a movement...the woman who made it her song.

[Letta Raven · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating look at the song that changed how people looked at Billie Holiday. I had no idea that she didn't write the song, having of course heard & read in several places that she did. The breakdown of who really wrote it, why and how the story got changed is well worth the read.

[Rafe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short and interesting book on the seminal jazz song Strange Fruit. The book puts the song in its historical context, it was written and performed at a time when popular music didn't touch on social issues, as it does as a matter of course these days.

[Kusaimamekirai · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short but fascinating book looks at how the song "Strange Fruit" came into being, how and when it was performed, and its legacy after the death of Billie Holiday. I learned a lot and the book was supplemented by stories from those who either saw Holiday perform the song live or talked of how the song impacted their lives. A quick and informative book for anyone interested in Holiday, jazz, or race relations in the 1940's and 50's.

[Miss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still remember my physical and emotional reaction to hearing Billie Holiday's recording of "Strange Fruit" for the first time, sitting in a jazz appreciation class in college. To this day, I cannot think of one song that has ever touched me in such a dramatic fashion. I'm not even sure I have the words to accurately convey what happened to me in those moments, listening to such a short, bare, dark and deeply condemning song. The words are stunning in their double edged play of pastoral and murder; wrapped in a voice like Lady Day's, it is the most stunningly beautiful and macabre piece of music I believe I've ever heard.

This book treats "Strange Fruit" like a living being, telling the story of it's creation and it's fame. The song and Lady Day's career are intimately wrapped together and the author doesn't shy away from that fact or try to belittle it. Rather he strives to give the song and it's place in jazz history greater depth and meaning. Most interesting are the first hand accounts from various people of their experiences seeing and hearing Strange Fruit (usually through a Lady Day performance), that the author leaves written in their own words. I also greatly enjoyed his interviews with modern day performers who have recorded and/or performed the piece; interestingly enough recording AND performing live are not as simpatico as one would think.

The book itself is an interesting concept: tell the story of a famous song, not the original performer or composer, but the history of the actual song and it's performances. I enjoyed it very much for it's historical analysis of such an amazing piece of music. It's a short and fascinating read for anyone who is a fan of the piece or Lady Day.

[Erin Tuzuner · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Rashomon remembrances weaving an important jewel in American history, illuminating the ugliness through song.

[Teri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange Fruit is the haunting song about lynchings in the south. It is a notable song of the Civil Rights movement popularized by Billie Holliday. Although Holliday has taken at least partial credit for the authorship of the song, it was actually Abel Meeropol who penned the poem that became the song. This story really is about the unique relationship between Holliday and Strange Fruit. Others have taken a turn at singing it but Holliday exuded soul and mourning into the song, bringing the listener to that tree with the strange fruit hanging from it. Holliday's struggle with drugs and ultimate demise is also covered.

This is a short book that can be read in a few hours. There's no real plot or complete timeline. What it does convey is the unusual connection between singer and song.

[Connor.M · Rating 5 out of 5]

My recent classic European literature escapade took a temporary halt for something slightly closer to home at the moment. I never thought I'd see the day when people are marching through the streets protesting for civil rights like they did nearly 60 years ago. It's an unfortunate deja vu. With that, it has never been a better time to be properly educated about the history of the civil rights movement.

In 1937, Abel Meeropol published the famous civil rights poem "Strange Fruit", which graphically depicted the lynching of black Americans. Not long later, in 1939, Billie Holiday performed it as a song for the first time in the only integrated night club in New York. The performance was met with hesitant applause. But Billie Holiday continued to perform the song for the next 20 years until her untimely death at the age of 44 due to Cirrhosis. Over the course of her short life she dealt with substance abuse which slowly chipped away voice, and even her public reputation. But her musical and influence and civil rights legacy lives on in ways many don't even know. Of course "Strange Fruit" continues to be known as a legendary turning point in artistic phrasing for singers. But the true legacy of the song lays in politics. "Strange Fruit" brought out the worse and best out of societies world wide. The song was banned on African radio during the antisemitic apartheid era, since the poem was written by a Jewish school teacher. In America, a Federal appeals court judge cited the song as evidence that death by hanging was to be considered "cruel and usual".

One of the first things I was caught off guard by in the book was the extreme glorification of the song's influence on society, jazz, and popular music. I had never heard of the song in any of the countless video essays I've watched on jazz. The song has faced scrutiny by musicians because of it's inability to fall into a genre. It has been considered to be "too artsy" to be folk music. And "too political" to be considered jazz. Billie Holiday's political work was not expected from a stereotypical black woman singer. Artistic insights of protest were normally expected from men.

David Margolick's biography is an unfiltered look into the oppressed life of one of the most influence pop singers of the 40's and early 50's, as well as the controversial legacy her work has left behind. I greatly enjoyed Margolick's way of explaining her substance abuse's destructive affects on her life without damaging her public image like the media did when she was alive. Billie Holiday lied about her imperfect childhood in her autobiography which the book was quick to call out. However, she was defended honestly and justly. My only complaint is that Billie's career with the song "Strange Fruit" over shadowed details about the other artists before her who've adapted the poem as well. I recommend anyone who wants to understand more about the history of political poetry and song writing to read this book.

[Marje · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most of the time, deeply evocative and powerful music makes me want to move. Strange Fruit is a song that demands still reflection, it's power is that you CAN'T move when you hear it.

It's not often that a song will have a biography, or that a song will be so indelibly connected to a single singer - but Strange Fruit and Billie Holiday are married to each other. This was a tale well told, of a song that resonates with the pain, and anger, and rage of slavery and racism. It's not an easy read. It is worth it.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a slim volume, a very quick read, and a great idea. just as the title says, it's a bio of the song Strange Fruit, most famously recorded by Billie Holiday, and it really gives an impression of how powerful and disturbing it must have been back in the day. It is such a song of its time and while i can appreciate the song today, it thankfully doesn't have quite the same relevance as it did in 1939. It was great to get this perspective.

[Grady R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.4/5

This was definitely an interesting read about Billie Holiday’s song “Strange Fruit” and the cultural significance and importance of it. I wasn’t necessarily blown away by much of the writing. There were a lot of quotes which was nice, but it almost became too many quotes, and not enough actually writing and explaining. If you are interested in this particular song or what it depicts, I’d say give it a read, other than that I wouldn’t recommend it.

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of like a 33 1/3 book, but about a single song instead of an entire album. Essentially this is a bunch of famous and less-famous people's comments about the song "Strange Fruit," strung together with a fairly minimal narrative/analytical skeleton. A quick read—and good background for teaching this song in class.

[Dianne Landry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unless you have heard Billie Holiday sing this song you can't begin to imagine the feelings it stirs. considered the first protest song, Strange Fruit is the story of lynchings in the American south. Even though it came out at a time that the practice was waning and considering it was written by a white, Jewish, northern school teacher it still sends a powerful message.

[Kelly M Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Very few books and songs can literally make. Chill go down your spine. Hearing the stories of people who were there to witness the magic of Lady Day singing this is priceless. Literally makes me thankful to be able to read. I'll tell visit this book in a year from now. I'm sure I've missed a small gem some where'd and I want it all

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this analysis of the song "Strange Fruit." I learned so much about the song itself and Billie Holiday as well as the impact of the song. A very fast read, and necessary for anyone wanting to understand the intersection of popular music and social consciousness.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never heard the song, but I am sure to try to find it after reading this book.

[Devon · Rating 5 out of 5]

An informative little book about such a tragically sad but important song.

[Wisteria Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

2008-Summer,racism,civil rights,Billie Holiday,revolutionary,lynchings,song,jazz

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent at what it sets out to do--trace the history of the song--composition, performances, controversy.

[Debbe · Rating 5 out of 5]

The song has always been haunting. The book explains why.

[Lisa F · Rating 5 out of 5]

a powerful gulp of a book about the most powerful song of one of the greatest singers. beautifully done, emotionally engaging and moving,

[Glenn Schryver · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read about a vital song.

[Eddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

“There was a certain willful purpose when she sang that tune." (p.102)

Abel Meeropol, white Jewish schoolteacher in New York City, after being so moved by an image of a lynching (speculated that the photo is the lynching of Thomas Shipp and Abram Smith in Marion Indiana) wrote a poem about it. After being set to music, Meeropol's poem became the song ultimately known as Strange Fruit. The song was played for jazz singer, Billie Holiday, and she sung it for the first time in front of an audience in 1939. Billie said she was nervous at first and "...was scared people would hate it."

But from that point on, Strange Fruit and Billie Holiday became intertwined in jazz history. Sure, others sang it, others certainly tried, but no one could sing it like Billie Holiday:

“When Billie sings it, you feel as if you’re at the foot of the tree.” p.78

“Not only did you see the ‘fruit’ evoked in all its graphic horror, but you saw in Billie Holiday the wife or sister or mother of one of the victims beneath the tree, almost prostrate with sorrow and fury…” p.76-77

“...and with every defeat she suffered, with every additional increment of abuse she endured or inflicted upon herself, the more personal the song came to seem. The confidence with which she’d first sung it gave way to pure pathos.” p.89-90

According to Meeropol, who heard her sing the song, said: “She gave a startling, most dramatic and effective interpretation, which could jolt an audience out of its complacency anywheres[sic].” p.30

[Brittany Dorrington · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was more of a 3.5 to 4 out of 5 stars for me. I very much liked the book, but there were some specifics that kind of brought it down.

I love how Margolick managed to really capture what the song is about and how it affected Billie Holiday. I liked how he went into depth about how some believe that Holiday may not have understood the meaning behind the song, but then others stand up and say that Holiday (despite having a lack of education) most definitely understands the meaning and message behing this political protest song.

Another thing that is also very much appreciated the way in which he went into details about the different audiences and audience reactions/ interactions with the song as well. As someone who is using this book as part of a dissertation this really helpful to know.

The one bit that annoyed me was that there is no referencing at all. Margolick will quote someone but won't at least footnote it or endnote where it comes from, what date, or anything like that. Whilst I do appreciate the discography and photo references at the very end of the book, it would of been great to have the references of interviews, newspapers etcetera, there too. It just makes it really hard for students to find anything or know where it comes from.

Overall, I did really enjoy reading this book. While it is short, it is easy to read and is jam packed with a lot of details and arguments about "Strange Fruit" and Billie herself. This a book that I highly recommend for anyone who wants to know a little more about Billie Holiday or just the song itself.

[Felipe Assis · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Eu desejava esse livro a um tempo até que no ultimo final de semana assisti o espetacular documentário sobre o B.B. King no netflix que retrata bem a "southern breeze" da época. Os trechos do inicio da vida dele no Mississípi me deixaram com um engodo e acabei comprando... Acho que o mérito dessa musica se deve a quem escreveu: Sr. Meeropol, pq mesmo se você, sei lá, canta-la em ritmo de frevo ela te tocará um pouco, isso se deve a letra poética, bucólica e espetacular, certamente... Eu já gostei muito da lady day, lembro que nas épocas de ensino médio passei algumas noites insones ouvindo "blue moon" na tentativa de dormi mais rápido, aquelas notas cheias de mel aceleravam o processo, só que em determinado momento, depois de pesquisar sobre ela e sua personalidade, passei a ter uma certa repulsa sobre a pessoa Billie Holliday, mas enfim, isso não vem ao caso, porem não posso deixar de dizer que a versão de "strange fruit" da Nina Simone me comove muito mais, aos meus ouvidos chega de forma mais natural todo o sofrimento de uma vitima de uma cultura cheia de segregação e racismo, sem duvidas. Enfim, a canção e toda sua carga histórica são um verdadeiro tesouro e esse livro é bem efetivo em demostrar isso. 

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, fast read. Interesting and informative, but....

For a book that is nearly half made up of remembrances of Billie, or of the first time they heard the title song, the problem is that Margolick never gets us citations. Was it a book, a newspaper, an interview? It would have been nice to know where the memories were published, as in some cases I would have liked to have gone back and taken a look at them myself. And he does gloss over issues - did the singing/playing of the song cause further confrontation? He seems satisfied with just mentioning the possibility, without looking into it further.

I read this first shortly after it was published, and had good enough memories of it to want to go back now, as I work (enjoyably) my way back through my Holiday CD collection. A short, quick, enjoyable read - worth a read, and worth the few hours you'll put into finishing it. I found it less informative now than I did in my nascent intro to jazz days back then.

[Rachel Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

The song is fantastic; this book is not.

To give credit where it's due, it's a very informational book. It has many facts and little anecdotes around the song and Billie Holiday. However, it reads like an extended article, and on reading the 'about the author', it turns out that's exactly what it is. It also has the rather absurd assertion that racism hasn't changed since 'back then', in spite of the fact that the author is referring to the racism of the 1990's. I'll be the first to admit racism absolutely existed in the 1990's (and still exists now) but I find it ridiculous to pretend that all the civil rights leaders of the past changed nothing.

It also reads in a rather boring way. In no way does it capture the drama or the tragedy of Billie Holiday, Abel Meeropol, or any of the other figures in the book or the goings on around them.

My advice is to let the song speak for itself and probably skip this book.

[Lora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book. I LOVE this song. It was one of my first experiences with jazz in college--and what an experience it was. I LOVE BILLIE.

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.

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.

[Colin Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Art, at times, is painful. Margolick effectively communicates this point in Strange Fruit. For art to be painful, it often gravitates around ideas someone should speak about but finds it hard to do so. According to Margolick, Holiday had a similar relationship to “Strange Fruit.” That is to say, the message, the point, and the rhetoric of “Strange Fruit” needed to be said; however, it was consistently taxing for Holiday to do so. In short, Strange Fruit reminds its reader of the destructive cost of great art. Great art hurts, and it hurts both those who receive it and those who deliver it.

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book a few years ago when I started my fascination with female jazz singers/songwriters. One of the most memorable songs that Billie Holiday ever sang was strange fruit. Through the low crackle on the recording I could hear her somber words. It was hard for me to listen to but I would just stop and listen. This book tells the story of the song, how it came to be so influential, what effects it had on people and a little bit of Billie Holiday's life. It is an interesting read and a quick one. I re-read it today in about an hour or two.