Billie Holiday - "Strange Fruit" - 1939.
Southern trees bear strange fruit,
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze,
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.
Pastoral scene of the gallant south,
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth,
Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh,
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh.
Here is fruit for the crows to pluck,
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck,
For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop,
Here is a strange and bitter cry.
I was a teenager at school in the 70's into Thin Lizzy, Clapton, Led Zep and other great music. A teacher played the above song for us once in class. I think a lot of lads grew up during that 45mins session. When I was older I collected most of Billie Holiday's music and read her biog. The song never fails to hit home.
Otherwise...
Makem & Clancy - And the band played Waltzing Matilda
Tom Waits - Kentucky Avenue