STRANGE FRUIT - Free Jazz Leadsheet

strange fruit, composed by Abel Meeropol in 1939 and famously performed by Billie Holiday, is a haunting protest song about racial violence and lynching in America. Its somber melody and stark lyrics make it a powerful statement in both jazz and social history.

The first recording was by Billie Holiday in 1939, and the song has been interpreted by numerous jazz and folk artists since, maintaining its emotional and historical resonance.

The structure is simple yet effective, allowing the lyrics and melodic phrasing to convey intense emotional weight, making it one of the most politically and musically significant works in the jazz canon.