Strange Fruit - Archie Shepp/Copyright Control Southern trees bear a strange fruit Blood at the leaves 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 And then sudden smell of burning flesh Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck The rain to gather the wind get no luck The sun gonna rot the trees gonna drop And here is a strange and bitter crop Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck The rain to gather man they get no luck A tree gonna drop Here is a strange and bitter crop Here is a strange and bitter oh bitter crop