The song began as a poem written by a jewish school teacher Abel Meeropol. Inspired by a photograph of the lynching of Thomas
Shipp and Abraham Smith. He put it to music himself because no one else had the "balls" to do it at the time...Billie of course had the "balls" to perform it, even when she was forbidden to do it..........The song of course is heart breaking and inspires so many different feelings depending on the race and/or experiences of the listener. God, I love Billie Holiday and the paradox of strength and weakness she represented in both her personal and professional life. Rest in peace honey..
The song began as a poem written by a jewish school teacher Abel Meeropol. Inspired by a photograph of the lynching of Thomas Shipp and Abraham Smith. He put it to music himself because no one else had the "balls" to do it at the time...Billie of course had the "balls" to perform it, even when she was forbidden to do it..........The song of course is heart breaking and inspires so many different feelings depending on the race and/or experiences of the listener. God, I love Billie Holiday and the paradox of strength and weakness she represented in both her personal and professional life. Rest in peace honey..