Heavenly Choir (Bob Gibson)

Last night I heard Josh White playing
From somewhere on the other side.
In an orchard full of strange fruit hanging.
With his head thrown back, he stood there singing.
He snapped those strings till his fingers bled.
He bent those notes till his guitar wept.

Now he's part of the Heavenly Choir,
Where all of the poor restless souls can be found.
Ain't that a heavenly choir?
Ain't that a hell of a sound?

And I heard Bessie Smith singing.
She was wearing her spangles and beads.
She was shouting the blues so the whole world could hear:
"Gimme a pigfoot and a bottle of beer."
In a hospital waiting room, waiting too long,
She was leaving the blues and she died to her song.

Now she's part of the Heavenly Choir,
Where all of the poor restless souls can be found.
Ain't that a heavenly choir?
Ain't that a hell of a sound?

And I heard Hank Williams moaning,
So lonesome he could cry.
Telling of ways that life can hurt you,
Telling of women who love and desert you,
Showing us ways that a man can die
Like a poor whippoorwill who's too blue to fly.

Now he's part of the Heavenly Choir,
Where all of the poor restless souls can be found.
Ain't that a heavenly choir?
Ain't that a hell of a sound?

And I heard sweet Janis singing,
Oh Pearl