Most of you already know this is a Billie Holiday cover. The song is representative of the hostile tension between whites and blacks into the early twentieth century. Look up the lyrics and you will find descriptions of a hanging(s). "Bulging eyes, twisted mouth." "Black bodies swinging from the Poplar tree."
It's an eye-opening song, even in this day and age. It certainly struck an audience in the midst of heated tension at the root of American segregation. The lyrics would be otherwise "shocking and risque," however the truth that the song is speaking for is just that. This is my favorite live song from Jeff.
Most of you already know this is a Billie Holiday cover. The song is representative of the hostile tension between whites and blacks into the early twentieth century. Look up the lyrics and you will find descriptions of a hanging(s). "Bulging eyes, twisted mouth." "Black bodies swinging from the Poplar tree."
It's an eye-opening song, even in this day and age. It certainly struck an audience in the midst of heated tension at the root of American segregation. The lyrics would be otherwise "shocking and risque," however the truth that the song is speaking for is just that. This is my favorite live song from Jeff.