Day Six: On and On and On and On

One of the most compelling characteristics of music is its ability to transport us through time and space. Today, the agenda is to write about a particular song that reminds me of a particular place. The first time I heard “Appletree” by Erykah Badu I was sitting at the desk of my high school art teacher at Southwest high school, Minneapolis, MN. Whenever I hear it I am immediately brought back to that specific moment in time. Nothing out of the ordinary was happening. I was drawing, there was the tumult of people arting around me, the room smelled of stale acrylic paint, and I just sat for a moment, listening to the song and watching the people surrounding me go about their business of creating. It wasn’t an exceptional moment but it has stuck with me for all these years later (10 I believe!). After that, “Appletree,” and other Badu songs, became a staple in that space. There was one lousy boom-box and a few dozen CD’s (most of them outrageously scratched) to choose from. Once I played a Roots CD someone anonymously complained that it was offensive. That was lame. For some reason a lot of Bob Marley and Bob Dylan were also played. Jurassic Five and Deltron 3030 were also popular now that I think about it. Anyway, “Appletree” is the song that stands out the most as reminding me of the high school art room environment.

At the time, I was a junior, I was really struck by the lyrics of “Appletree.” I hadn’t really listened Badu before and I was really engrossed by her style. That night, I believe, I bought a few of her albums at the Galleria Mall’s Barnes and Noble. The one I listened to the most was her live album, which still stands up today as a quality album. Over the years I have spent a lot of time listening to Badu, those she’s inspired and those who have inspired her. I still love the song “Appletree” and am thankful it can so easily transport me back to a place so seminal in my personal development.

Appletree lyrics
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 umm...

It was a stormy night
you know the kind where the lightning strike
and I was hangin' out wit some of my "artsy" friends
ooh wee ooh wee oooh
The night was long the night went on
people coolin' out until the break of dawn
incense was burnin' so I'm feelin right -- ah'ight

See I picks my friends like I pick my fruit
& Ganny told me that when I was only a youth
I don't go 'round trying to be what I'm not
I don't waste my time trying ta 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 do wee

And if you don't want to be down with me
You don't want to pick from my appletree
And if you don't want to be down with me
Then you don't want to pick from my appletree
And if you don't want to be down with me
Then you don't want to pick from my appletree
And if you don't want to be down with me
You just don't want to be down

I have a ho
and I take it everywhere I go
Cause I'm planting seeds
so I reaps What I sow -- ya know
Oh on & on & on & on
my cipher keeps movin' like a rollin' stone
I can't control the soul flowin' in me
ooh wee

See I picks my friends like I pick my fruit
[ From : http://www.elyrics.net/read/e/erykah-badu-lyrics/appletree-lyrics.html ]
& Ganny told me that when I was only a youth
I don't walk around trying to be what I'm not
I don't waste my time trying ta 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 do wee

And if you don't want to be down with me,
You don't want to pick from my appletree [x3]
And if you don't want to be down with me
You just don't want to be down

Oh my my my
Oh my my my
Oh my my my ahh
Oh my my my my my my my
Ohh
I picks my friends like I pick my fruit
& Ganny told me that when I was only a youth
I don't walk around trying to be what I'm not
I don't waste my time trying ta 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 do wee

And if you don't want to be down with me
You don't want to pick from my appletree
And if you don't want to be down with me
You dum dum diddy
And if you don't want to be down with me
You don't want to pick from my appletree
And if you don't want to be down with me
You just don't want to be down
You just don't want to be down
Ohh you just don't want to be down
Down, down, down
You just don't want to be down
Ohh
You just don't want to be down
down [x15]
wanna be down
no oh no
You just don't want to be down
no no no
You just don't want to be down

Runners Up

• Jay-Z-Change Clothes-Kyle’s Iowa City Apartment
• One Republic-Apologize-Thanh Do/A Wok in the Park
• Prince-Pussy Control-The Front

Next Up

A song that reminds you of a certain event