Apple Pie

Song Meaning

The lyrics present a curious case of desire versus reality, centered around the seemingly simple image of apple pie. Initially, the narrator expresses a longing for apple pie, only to immediately retract it due to a physical aversion – apples cause a belly ache. This sets up a core tension: the idealized craving for something sweet and comforting clashes with a personal, almost absurd, physical limitation. The narrator's ultimate decision is to "pass you by," highlighting a resignation to this unfulfilled desire. The chorus introduces a more abstract concept: "Apple pie in the sky." This phrase, repeated insistently, suggests an unattainable or perhaps purely conceptual ideal. The pie has "blown sky high," implying it's out of reach, perhaps having become wildly popular or simply too grand to grasp. The narrator's repeated "I wonder wonder why" underscores a bewilderment at this phenomenon, a confusion about why this desirable thing remains so elusive or grand. The introduction of characters like George, Eve & Adam, Paul, and Mario adds layers to the apple pie metaphor. George's meditation and potential scream after the "Apple fell right to the ground" hints at a primal, perhaps biblical, connection to temptation and consequence, echoing the fall of man. Paul, with his "feet so firmly on the ground," seems to represent a more grounded, less aspirational existence, while Mario's "great big slice / Of Apple pies of pennies and of pounds" suggests a more tangible, perhaps materialistic, pursuit of abundance. These figures seem to engage with different facets of desire, aspiration, and material gain, all framed by the apple pie motif. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics lies in their whimsical yet pointed exploration of unattainable desires and the often-absurd reasons we might fail to achieve them. The contrast between the simple, comforting image of apple pie and the narrator's physical ailment, coupled with the grander, almost cosmic, "pie in the sky" concept, creates a unique emotional landscape. It’s a playful yet poignant commentary on wanting what you can't have, or perhaps, wanting what you *shouldn't* have, leaving the listener to ponder their own "apple pies" that remain just out of reach.