TW: Descriptions of violent deaths of African American people in the days of Slavery.
I love singing, I love the Blues. I admire Billie Holliday so damned much. But this song... the expression she shows. I understand there are some songs I will never sing, and that there is a spirit in the Blues that I couldn't know. I can sing about my troubles, but they aren't a thing on these troubles here.
The horror and grief in her expression says more to me than words ever could. Oh Billie, God bless you for having the strength to sing about it, and to hear applause after you have opened yourself to share such a thing.
(Seriously, am I the only one that is a bit thrown by the bold applause? Sure, she was at a performance on TV, but it's like clapping at a funeral to me).