“Blood on the Leaves” is more than just another song by an artist. The song is a daring social commentary about slavery, society, relationships and death. The song features a sample of “Strange Fruit” by Nina Simone.
West was quoted as always wanting to use that specific sample in a song but was never sure how to until Yeezus came along. The sample beautifully ties together aspects of hate and racism with slavery and death. Just as the song is a cry about past and failed relationships, it also addresses the relationship between slavery and society today. Lyrics from the song can be found on the other track of the album, “New Slaves”. West is depicting how society, specifically African Americans, are still slaves to the corrupt corporations so they can show their wealth.
In the opening verses of the song, West describes a crippling relationship that fell to fame. West fell in love with a woman before she gained the fame of being with him. His lover had to go and tell everybody about their love and he is reflecting upon how he enjoyed the love they had before the whole world was consumed by and aware of their relationship. The cry “We could’ve been somebody”, is nothing more than West yearning for what could have been. Unfortunately, their love had succumbed to materialism and now what was once two people showing one another off, it is now to slaves showing off their materialistic things.
“Blood on the Leaves” is an energy packed song. The very elements of its music and rhythm, a calm and mellow opening, reflects the relationship before the fame and society before materialism gained momentum. The drop symbolizes the demise of the relationship and built up frustration West had towards his woman. It also portrays his critique of society for falling in submission to materialistic wealth when it has no value beyond in the eyes of others. The end of the song is reflective and not upbeat compared to the middle; it is West feeling alone and lost in this world, yearning to find the love he once valued before the fame.
Musical Analysis 