Music can hold up a mirror to society and capture a particular time and place. Songs are often a vehicle for telling stories. But can a song really be an agent for social or political change? Writing protest songs, or songs with an overtly political message, isn’t easy. While the message may be a vital one, this is no guarantee the song will, necessarily, be any good. A song like Billie Holiday’s 'Strange Fruit', however, retains its power after almost 80 years. What's the secret? Paul Barclay talks to two songwriters and a music writer. Recorded at the Rock and Roll Writers Festival in Brisbane on April 2nd, 2016.