Released: February 11, 1997

Songwriter: Robert “Free” Bradford Erykah Badu

Producer: Ike Lee III Erykah Badu

[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 lightning strikes
And I was hanging out with some of my artsy friends
Ooh wee ooh wee ooh
The night was long, the night went on
People cooling out until the break of dawn
Incense was burning so I'm feeling right, aight

[Bridge]
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 trying to be what I'm not
I don't waste my time trying to get what you got
I work at pleasing 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

[Hook]
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
Then you don't want to pick from my apple tree
And if you don't want to be down, 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 moving like a rolling stone
I can't control the soul flowing in me
Ooh wee ooh wee

[Bridge]
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 trying to be what I'm not
I don't waste my time trying to get what ya got
I work at pleasing 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

[Hook]
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
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
Oh my my my, oh my my my
Oh my my my, ah
Oh my my my my my my my

[Bridge]
Oh, 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 trying to be what I'm not
I don't waste my time trying to get what you got
I work at pleasing me
Cause I can't please you, and thats why I do what I do
My soul flies free like a willow tree
Doo wee doo wee doo wee

[Hook + Outro]
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, dum dum diddy
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, you just don't want to be down
You just don't want to be down
Oh, you just don't want to be down
Down, down, down
You just don't want to be down...
Down, down, down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down, down, down

[Fades out]

Erykah Badu

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.