Strange Fruit

by Walker Redding

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about

Anyone who is familiar with my band Strawberry Cheesesteak knows that I believe that music should be fun, and that I try not to take myself too seriously. That being said, I also believe that music has the power to move people, and right now I can’t in good conscience just write songs about women, weed and house shows.

Initially inspired by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s “Ohio,” “Strange Fruit” is a concentration of some of my opinions and reactions to the current socio-political state of America. This was one of those rare occurrences where the song came into my head fully formed and I was able to actually capture it, which as many musicians know, is more difficult than it may seem.

Then came a coincidence. Upon releasing the track art a day before this, a friend of mine, and peer in the local music scene Tommy Barvick, contacted me and asked me if I knew the implications of the term “strange fruit.” I did not, and he enlightened me on the Billie Holiday song of the same title and its history as a protest song against southern lynchings in the 1950's. The first verse paints a haunting picture:

“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”

Below is a link to Billie Holiday performing her “Strange Fruit,” and I highly suggest you take a look into a more in depth history of the song, and Billie.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DGY9HvChXk

In my “Strange Fruit,” America is a sick tree, and racism, pedophilia, and a deep social divide are the strange, diseased fruit that it bears. Love it or hate it, I think there’s a lot of truth in this song.

Thanks for listening.

lyrics

Well they’re marchin’ in the streets in Oregon
Disturbin’ false peace in Oregon
There’s killers roamin’ free in Oregon
‘Cause there’s violent police in Oregon

Holdin’ up a sign against a gun
Singin’ protest songs with gas masks on
Somebody threw a brick to kill the cause
There’s violent police in America

Take your eye off the apple
And look to the root
‘Cause it ain’t a healthy tree that bears
Naturally strange fruit

It’s so strange

There’s a pedophile elite in Washington
Vyin’ for a seat at re-election
They’re given’ me the creeps
I tell ya what, gonna make like a guitar and string ‘em up

Take your eye off the apple
And look to the root
‘Cause it aint a healthy tree that bears
Naturally strange fruit

It’s so strange

credits

released August 16, 2020
Written and Performed by Walker (Redding) DesTroismaisons
Mixed by Walker DesTroismaisons
Track art by Hannah Jacobson

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Walker Redding New Haven, Connecticut

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