FAWM: "How Do You Like Those Apples?"

How Do You Like Those Apples?

2 weeks ago by @raspberry33

Skirmish: History Project (@dudachris)

How Do You Like Those Apples?

raspberry33

00:00

Liner Notes

#history #skirmish My wife taught 3rd grade in a Western Massachusetts town that claims Johnny Appleseed as a resident. In reality, he was born a bit further east, but spent most of his teenage years there before setting out for what was then the frontier - Western New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and further west. The legend is that Johnny Appleseed planted trees everywhere. The part of the story you don't hear is that the Homesteading rules allowed him to claim land, establish an orchard and then sell the land at profit. And that most of the apples were used to make Apple Cider. The fermented kind... This song was started a few years ago but didn't quite gel then. Re-instrumented and re-mixed for tonite's skirmish. #singersongwriter #folk

Lyrics

HOW D'YA LIKE THEM APPLES?
Verse 1: (myth is not reality)
You’ve learned the legend well from movies and from books
Barefoot rambler wrapped in tattered clothing
I wander through the land a tin pot on my head
Planting trees wherever wind is blowing

There’s just a shred of truth in the tallest tales
Chapman is my family name indeed
Though I’m a frontier man, I hail from Massachusetts
And Pennsylvania’s where I first sowed seed

Chorus:
You think you know, but you don’t really
Understand at all
The homestead rules encouraged planting trees
Fifty trees comprise an orchard, and the land is yours
And that’s why I build apple nurseries
So how do you like them apples?

Verse 2: (Gift to the Frontier)
I learned the orchard trade in the Western Reserve
And followed the frontier to Indiana
Dry rusk will make a meal my pet wolf alongside me
Another myth of true Americana

Your teachers just assumed those apples to eat
But really, they were better to make cider
It was the gift of hooch I brought to the frontier
Appleseed was loved as a provider

CHORUS

Verse 3: (Entrepreneur)
Homesteads I made and sold to settlers far and wide
A thousand acres
In time, I came to find my mission in the Church
Natives say that I am touched by the Great Spirit
And leave me alone
CHORUS & OUT

Comments

@jeremykazoo 2w

There is so much I love about this. From my fondness for the subject matter (both the history and the apple) to how the music is dark-but not too dark, diverse and full of fantastic organ! A++

@mhorning 2w

The most American Tradition of all, tax and land schemes. And hard cider.

Good history lesson. Love the query in the chorus.

@dudachris 2w

Fun topic. A little nuance for the children's song sung as a prayer lol. I really enjoy how you do things with all the different instruments and parts. The only thing I note is the organ part at 2:40 could be a touch louder; but that might just be because I like organs used in appropriate moments so much lol 😜

@kahlo2013 2w

This is fantastic story telling! It flows beautifully. A lot of great history and I like the “how do you like them apples?” to engage the listener. I learned a lot!