Erykah Badu

Released: February 11, 1997

Songwriter: Erykah Badu Robert “Free” Bradford

Producer: Erykah Badu Ike Lee III

[Verse 1]
It was a stormy night
You know the kind where the lightnin' strike
And I was hangin' out with some my London 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 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 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 wanna be down with me
You don't wanna pick from my apple tree
And if you don't wanna be down with me
You don't wanna pick from my apple tree
And if you don't wanna be down with me
You don't wanna pick from my apple tree
And if you don't wanna be down
You just don't wanna 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

[Pre-Chorus]
See, I picks my friends like I pick my fruit
My 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 to get what ya 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 wanna be down with me
You don't wanna pick from my apple tree
And if you don't wanna be down with me
Ya dum dum ditty
And if you don't wanna be down with me
You don't wanna pick from my apple tree
And if you don't wanna be down with me
You just don't wanna be down

[Outro]
Oh my my my (Oh my my my)
Oh my my my (Oh my my my)
Oh my my my
Oh my my my my my my my
Oh, on and on, and on and on
My cypher keeps movin' like a rollin' stone
Oh, on, ha, on, on, on
My cypher keeps movin' like a rollin' stone
Down, down
My cypher keeps movin' like a rollin' stone
Down, down, down
My cypher keeps movin' like a rollin' stone
Down, down, da-down

Erica Abi Wright, better know as the Erykah Badu is a multi-genre artist with influences spanning from Hip-Hop, R&B, Soul, Funk and Experimental. She is credited as one of the pioneers of Neo-Soul movement of the mid 90’s and would become one of the most prolific artist of the genre, earning her the title “First Lady Of Neo-Soul.”

Erykah’s career began in 1994, when she opened a show for D'angelo, and attracted the attention of Kedar Entertainment. Under the label, Erykah would release her debut alum Baduizm, which earned two Grammy awards. Erykah would use the monumentum of the debut release to create one of the strongest discographies of any R&B artist.

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