Apple Suckling Tree
Bob Dylan Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Under that apple suckling tree, oh yeah
Under that apple suckling tree, oh yeah
Underneath that tree
There's just gonna be you and me
Underneath that apple suckling tree, oh yeah

Old man down and caught and hooked down there
Old man down like a county hook, my man
Old man down and pulled hooked
Line up baby, y'all take a look
Pull him down in a county hook, my man.

Under that apple suckling tree, oh yeah
Under that apple suckling tree, oh yeah
Underneath that tree
There's just gonna be you and me
Underneath that apple suckling tree

Now I wish to my soul I had seven years, uh-huh
Now I wish to my soul I had seven years, uh-huh
Hey, if I fall on your buryin' ground
Didn't catch your name, but he had a hound
Bad on down there on the avenue, oh yeah

Under that apple suckling tree, oh yeah
Under that apple suckling tree, oh yeah
Underneath that tree
There's just gonna be you and me
Underneath that apple suckling tree, oh yeah

Under that apple suckling tree, oh yeah
Under that apple suckling tree, oh yeah
Underneath that tree




There's just gonna be you and me
Underneath that apple suckling tree oh yeah

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bob Dylan and The Band’s song “Apple Suckling Tree” are open to interpretation, as with Dylan’s style in general. The imagery of the apple tree could be perceived as symbolic of the Garden of Eden or childhood innocence. The repetition of the phrase “Underneath that apple suckling tree, oh yeah” gives a sense of longing and desire for something innocent and pure. The singer wishes to escape reality and return to a time where life was simple and there were no complications.


The second half of the song takes a darker turn, where an “old man” is caught and “hooked down there” which could suggest being caught in a trap or being corrupted. The line “line up baby, y’all take a look, pull him down in a county hook, my man” gives the impression of a lynching or hanging, which could be a commentary on race and injustice in America. The final verse “now I wish to my soul I had seven years” suggests regret and a desire to reverse past actions.


Line by Line Meaning

Under that apple suckling tree, oh yeah
Beneath the apple tree, definitely


Under that apple suckling tree, oh yeah
Beneath the apple tree, absolutely


Underneath that tree
Under the tree


There's just gonna be you and me
It's going to be just you and me


Underneath that apple suckling tree, oh yeah
Beneath the apple tree, for sure


Old man down and caught and hooked down there
An elderly man captured and pulled down


Old man down like a county hook, my man
An elderly man pulled down, like a hook used in local law enforcement


Old man down and pulled hooked
An old man taken down and restrained


Line up baby, y'all take a look
Come and see for yourself


Pull him down in a county hook, my man.
Taken down like a criminal


Now I wish to my soul I had seven years, uh-huh
I wish I had more time


Now I wish to my soul I had seven years, uh-huh
I really wish I had more time


Hey, if I fall on your buryin' ground
If I should die on your property


Didn't catch your name, but he had a hound
I didn't get his name, but he had a dog with him


Bad on down there on the avenue, oh yeah
Not good down the street


Under that apple suckling tree, oh yeah
Beneath the apple tree, for sure


Under that apple suckling tree, oh yeah
Beneath the apple tree, definitely


Underneath that tree
Under the tree


There's just gonna be you and me
It's going to be just you and me


Underneath that apple suckling tree oh yeah
Beneath the apple tree, absolutely




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@malbuff

This is what Bob actually sings on this track:

Under that apple suckling tree, oh yeah
Under that apple suckling tree, oh yeah
Underneath that tree
There's just gonna be you and me
Under that apple suckling tree, oh yeah

Old man down like a county hook, my man
Old man down like a county hook, my man
Old man down and pulled and hooked
Line up baby, y'all take a look
Old man down in a county hook, my man

Under that apple suckling tree, oh yeah
Under that apple suckling tree, oh yeah
Underneath that tree
There's just gonna be you and me
Underneath that apple suckling tree, on yeah

Now I wish to my soul I had seven years, uh-huh
Now I wish to my soul I had seven years, uh-huh
Hey, if I fall on your buryin' ground
Don't catch your name, but he had the hound
Bad on down there on the avenue, oh yeah

Underneath that apple suckling tree, oh yeah
Under that apple suckling tree, oh yeah
Well, underneath that tree
There's just gonna be you and me
Underneath that apple suckling tree, oh yeah

Under that apple suckling tree, oh yeah
Under that apple suckling tree, oh yeah
Underneath that tree
There's just gonna be you and me
Underneath that apple suckling tree oh yeah



All comments from YouTube:

@duncandonitz4874

I can't sit still to this one. It's that organ, gets me every time.

@colinwilliams553

....I know, right?my toes won't stop unless the song is over by the way, the organ solo is done courtesy of GARTH HUDSON.

@malbuff

It's Danko's bass gets me. And Robertson on the drums just pounding a 1-2.

@sophie-grace9143

@@malbuff What I love about the drums is, it's so primitive. It sounds like he has a wooden spoon and two tea-chests. It's bloody great.

@thescoobymike

He has so much great material it’s ridiculous

@jamesdavison8709

A great double CD

@AlexColberg

There's no such thing as an apple suckling tree. Dylan made it up. His creativity comes from so many directions.

@sophie-grace9143

No shit, Sherlock?

@jamesdavison8709

Oh no, they’re real common

@levimatthew8911

My aunt has one.

More Comments

More Versions