20 Protest Songs That Matter: No. 5

I would vote for this as the most protest song in American history. Does it get any deeper than lynching? And it probably took a woman who knew the sting of real personal and social pain to carry it's message. It is an elegant elegy that pays homage to the victims, the singer, and the songwriter's compassion and soul. I think that bloggers should try to respect the message by just trying to get along.
PEACE!

This song was way before my time but I am trying to imagine the influence this song had. I am sure it was banned in many places. I am sure it painted the picture of how many blacks were treated at that time.

Lady Day will forever be remembered as a pioneer of American music. The drug use was a tragedy, her being a black woman was a struggle, but all of her tribulations were what molded that beautiful soul to come through her music and touch all of us left behind.

this is def. deep and deserving on here...

Wow, this song brought tears to my eyes. I have never heard such a ghostly, beautiful song. I really don't give a shit about drugs and whatever else, that doesn't mean her heart wasn't still in the right place. She was a great singer and person in her own right. OFF TOPIC- Gretchen Wilson sung one of her songs as a "hidden" track on her All Jacked-Up album, "Heartache" or something like that. She sings it VERY well, but Holiday still hits you in a way no other could.

This is a reply to Maria-Danielle.
Billie Holiday was a known drug addict and it is a shame. Don't get mad at facts - get mad at the situation that caused the facts. By the way, regarding racism, we all know of the comments about New York and Jews by Jessie Jackson - the Rainbow Push founder - just so you might know, this song was written by a Jewish man.

in ref to billpatpensacola's comment about billie.notice how her character is the main issue in his comment, not the subject matter of the song. who gives a sh*t if she was a drug user black americans being hung from trees is still f'ed up, they were neighbors, family, friends and US soldiers returning from wwI and wwII. stop politicking by poopooing a point by talking about the person making it!

Marion, Indiana is the ' Deep South ' ???

What happened to Country Joe and the Fish with One Two Three What Are We Fighting For? Now that was a protest song from the sixties.

Just another horrible truth about our history... I only wish we could learn from the past but we are repeating the horrors currently and no doubt will continue to do so. I love this country, however, it is not without "sin". In loving this country I can say AMERICA is too good for this behavior.