Lady Day [My tribute to Billie Holiday]

(Billie Holiday 1915-1959)






Momma was thirteen
when I passed through
the delta of her thighs

tho' I never played
with baby dolls -- I sho'
could crank sad
melodic sighs.

My songs mourned
strange fruits hang'n
from south'n trees,

they pleaded
that smack take
his damn hands off me.

Yeah,
me, Ella and Sarah
we'd shine, shine, shine
I wuz melancholy's silk
in twelve bar time.

My name's Lady Day
tho' some called me Bill

and
if I wuz with y'all

blue, so blue
ma blues be'd

-- still.