Apple Suckling Tree
Bob Dylan · The Basement Tapes
Down there
Old man down is baitin' a hook
On there
Gonna pull man down on a suckling hook
Gonna pull man into the suckling brook
Oh yeah!
Now, he's underneath that apple suckling tree
Oh yeah!
Under that apple suckling tree
Oh yeah!
That's underneath that tree
There's gonna be just you and me
Underneath that apple suckling tree
Oh yeah!
I push him back and I stand in line
Oh yeah!
Then I hush my Sadie and stand in line
Oh yeah!
Then I hush my Sadie and stand in line
I get on board in two-eyed time
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!
Now, who's on the table. who's to tell me?
Oh yeah!
Who's on the table, who's to tell me?
Oh yeah!
Who should I tell, oh, who should I tell?
The forty-nine of you like bats out of hell
Oh underneath that old apple suckling tree
Apple Suckling Tree
Recorded during the legendary 1967 sessions in Nashville, "Apple Suckling Tree" stands as a quintessential example of Bob Dylan's collaborative spirit on The Basement Tapes. This acoustic track, often performed alongside "It Ain't Me, Babe," showcases the raw, unpolished energy that defined the project. Rather than a traditional studio production, the recording captures the musicianship of Dylan and his peers in a casual, home-studio setting, reflecting the era's shift toward folk-rock authenticity. The song's simple melody and conversational lyrics serve as a testament to the improvisational nature of the sessions, offering listeners an intimate glimpse into the creative process that would later influence the development of the folk-rock genre.