Strange Fruit

by Jeff Buckley

Tab

4.9 (27)

intermediate

Version:

v1 v2

Transpose

Capo

None

Size

100%

Verse

Southern trees, bear strange fruit

     F#m7      G#7       C#m7    G#dom7        C#m high
E|----2----|----4----|----4----|----8--------------9-----|----|
B|----5----|----4----|----5----|----7--------------9-----|----|
G|----2----|----5----|----4----|----8--------------9-----|----|
D|----2----|----4----|----6----|----6--------------11----|----|
A|----4----|----6----|----4----|-------------------------|----|
E|----2----|----4----|---------|-------------------------|----|

Occasionally use this “jazzy number” for second chord (replacing standard G#7)

     G#7#5
E|---------|
B|----5----|
G|----5----|
D|----4----|
A|---------|
E|----4----|

Scent of magnolia

     Bmaj       Amaj     G#maj     Amaj     G#maj (picked)
E|----7----------5----|----4----|----5----|-------------------------4---4----|
B|----7----------5----|----4----|----5----|--------------------4--------4----|
G|----8----------6----|----5----|----6----|---------------5-------------5----|
D|----9----------7----|----6----|----7----|----------6------------------6----|
A|----9----------7----|----6----|----7----|------6----------------------6----|
E|----7----------5----|----4----|----5----|--4--------------------------4----|

Break/Solo

Twice round     
     C#m7                  F#m7               F#m7 (B string &ndash; drop E to D#)
E|----4----|---|---|---|----2----|----|----|----2----|
B|----5----|---|---|---|----5----|----|----|----4----|
G|----4----|---|---|---|----2----|----|----|----2----|
D|----6----|---|---|---|----2----|----|----|----2----|
A|----4----|---|---|---|----4----|----|----|----4----|
E|---------|---|---|---|----2----|----|----|----2----|

then     
   C#m7        Bmaj7       Amaj7       G#maj (plucked)
E|---4---|---|---7---|---|---5---|---|-----------------------4---4---|
B|---5---|---|---7---|---|---5---|---|-------------------4-------4---|
G|---4---|---|---8---|---|---6---|---|---------------5-----------5---|
D|---6---|---|---7---|---|---5---|---|-----------6---------------6---|
A|---4---|---|---9---|---|---7---|---|-------6-------------------6---|
E|-------|---|---7---|---|---5---|---|---4-----------------------4---|

So here's the chords shown against lyric

F#m7 G#7 C#m7 (G# dom7 > C#m high)

Southern trees bear strange fruit

F#m7 G#7 C#m7 (G# dom7 > C#m high)Blood on the

leaves and blood at the root

F#m7 G#7 C#m7 (G# dom7 > C#m high)Black bodies

swinging in the southern breeze

F#m7 G#7 C#m7 (G# dom7 > C#m high)

Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees

F#m7 G#7#5 C#m7 (G# dom7 > C#m high)

Pastoral scene of the gallant south

F#m7 G#7 C#m7

The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth

Bmaj Amaj G#maj

Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh

Amaj G#maj (picked)

Then the sudden smell of burning flesh

Break/Solo

C#m7 F#m7 F#m7 (drop to D#)

C#m7 Bmaj7 Amaj7 G#maj (picked)

F#m7 G#7#5 C#m7 (G# dom7 > C#m high)

Here is your fruit for the crows to pluck

F#m7 G#7 C#m7 (G# dom7 > C#m high)

For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck

F#m7 G#7 C#m7

For the sun to rot for the trees to drop

Amaj G#maj C#m7

Here is a strange and bitter crop