Red Apple Juice 30" by 40" Original by Richard Matteson. C 2007
High quality reproduction on foamcore backing with metal hanger- ready to hang. 12" by 16"
This old-time white blues song was first collected in 1909 by EC Perrow as "Done All I Can Do." Some song lyrics come from the Scottish ballad “The Lass of Roch Royal” in 1829. In the Appalachian Mountains the song is known by different names: Red Rocking Chair/Red Apple Juice/Sugar Baby/Honey Baby/Ain’t Got No Honey Baby Now.
My painting takes the song way back; from Eve in the Garden of Eden to eternal life; from the cradle to the grave and beyond. As Eve ponders eating the apple with the serpent watching, apple juice flows from a glass forming a lake of red apple juice. The path takes you from the cradle to the rocking chair and the grave and finally eternal life. The lyrics “who’ll rock the cradle,” “ain’t got no use for your red rocking chair” and “laid her in the shade” lead you on a journey as if the red apple juice is the blood of life.
Red Apple Juice
Ain't got no use for your red apple juice,
Ain't got no honey baby now,
Ain't got no honey baby now.
Who'll rock the cradle and who'll sing the song,
Who'll rock the cradle when I’m gone,
Who'll rock the cradle when I’m gone.
Ain't got no use for your red rocking chair,
Ain't got no honey baby there,
Ain't got no honey baby there.
Gave her all I made then I laid her in the shade,
What more can a poor boy do?
What more can a poor boy do?