Erykah Badu
Erykah Badu
Erykah Badu
Erykah Badu
Erykah Badu
Erykah Badu
Erykah Badu
Erykah Badu
Erykah Badu
Erykah Badu
Erykah Badu
Erykah Badu
Erykah Badu
Erykah Badu
In “Appletree”, Badu alludes that her wisdom and knowledge are like fruits which she is offering freely. Ultimately, if certain people don’t want to spend time with her, they are rejecting these gifts. The song was released in US as a radio promo and as an official single in Europe.
[Intro]
I'd like to dedicate this to all of the Creator's righteous children
I have some food in my bag for you
Not that edible food, the food you eat?
No, I have some food for thought
Since knowledge is infinite
It has infinitely fell on me, so um
[Verse 1]
It was a stormy night
You know, the kind where the lightnin' strikes
And I was hangin' out with some of my artsy friends
Ooh, wee ooh, wee ooh
The night was long, the night went on
People coolin' out until the break of dawn
Incense was burnin' so I'm feelin' right, aight
[Pre-Chorus]
See I picks my friends like I pick my fruit
My granny told me that when I was only a youth
I don't walk around tryin' to be what I'm not
I don't waste my time tryin' to get what you got
I work at pleasin' me 'cause I can't please you
And that's why I do what I do
My soul flies free like a willow tree
Doo wee, doo wee, doo wee
[Chorus]
And if you don't want to be down with me
You don't want to pick from my apple tree
And if you don't want to be down with me
Then you don't want to pick from my apple tree
And if you don't want to be down with me
Then you don't want to pick from my apple tree
And if you don't want to be down with me
You just don't want to be down
[Verse 2]
I have a hoe
And I take it everywhere I go
'Cause I'm plantin' seeds so I reaps what I sow (Ya know?), ya know
Oh, on and on, and on and on
My cypher keeps movin' like a rollin' stone
I can't control the soul flowin' in me
(Ooh wee) Ooh wee
[Pre-Chorus]
See I picks my friends like I pick my fruit
My granny told me that when I was only a youth
I don't walk around tryin' to be what I'm not
I don't waste my time tryin' to get what you got
I work at pleasin' me 'cause I can't please you
And that's why I do what I do
My soul flies free like a willow tree
Doo wee, doo wee, doo wee
[Chorus]
And if you don't want to be down with me
You don't want to pick from my apple tree
And if you don't want to be down with me
Then you don't want to pick from my apple tree
And if you don't want to be down with me
Then you don't want to pick from my apple tree
And if you don't want to be down with me
You just don't want to be down
[Bridge]
Oh my, my, my
Oh my, my, my
Oh my, my, my, ah
Oh my, my, my, my, my, my, my, oh, oh, oh
[Pre-Chorus]
I picks my friends like I pick my fruit
My granny told me that when I was only a youth
I don't walk around tryin' to be what I'm not
I don't waste my time tryin' to get what you got
I work at pleasin' me 'cause I can't please you
And that's why I do what I do
My soul flies free like a willow tree
Doo wee, doo wee, doo wee
[Chorus]
And if you don't want to be down with me
You don't want to pick from my apple tree
And if you don't want to be down with me
Then you don't want to pick from my apple tree
And if you don't want to be down with me
Then you don't want to pick from my apple tree
And if you don't want to be down with me
You just don't want to be down
[Outro]
You just don't want to be down
Oh, you just don't want to be down
Down, down (Down), down
You just don't want to be down, oh
You just don't want to be down
Down, down (Mm), down
Down (Ooh), down (Ooh), down (Ooh), down (Ooh, ooh)
Down (Ooh), down (Mm), down (Mm), down (Ooh, ooh)
Down, down, down, down
To be down, oh, no, you just don't wanna be down
Appletree was written by Robert “Free” Bradford & Erykah Badu.
Appletree was produced by Ike Lee III & Erykah Badu.
Erykah Badu released Appletree on Tue Feb 11 1997.