The oppresive July heat hung heavy in the air / My shirt clung to my back
The fish they weren't a-bitin' at the old muddy river / So I decided to head back
Walkin 'cross that sun-baked field, my head began to swim
My knees were gettin wobbly and my eyes began to dim
When on the hill up yonder, I spied an apricot tree
And resolved to hid beneath its shade from the oppresive July heat

Fool I was, I hadn't brought a blessed thing to eat / Nor any water to quench my thirst
To top it off, the fruit up in the tree was not yet ripe / It seemed that things couldn't get much worse
Beneath broad leaves, I lay down to take my rest
When 'cross that sun-baked field a figure approached from the west
With hair of blond drawn 'cross her face and a dress cornflower blue
This barefoot beauty stopped 'neath my tree to say, "How do you do,
"I'm sorry, sir to bother, but I've come a long long way
And a longer trek is yet awaiting me
I would be most grateful, sir, if you picked me fruit from this apricot tree."

Paralyzed by her beauty, taking pity of her plight / I asked "What is your name?
Where is it you're headed, and from whence did you came?"
"Kind sir, my name is Lilybelle, from home I've run away
And it's my solemn hope to reach California someday"
With this she smiled ruefully, and my heart sank in its chest
I said, "The fruit is not yet ripe, but you can stay & rest"
"I'm sorry sir, but must insist, would you be so unkind to deny me?
I would linger here with you awhile if you picked me fruit from this apricot tree."

Her plea tugged at my heart once more, her smile did me in / I wanted just to make her stay somehow
Still I had not a single apricot to offer her / But then she pointed to the highest bough:
"I think I see one ready, there, so orange and so sweet.
I would linger here with you awhile if you brought it down for me"
Wanting only to please Lilybelle, I wasted no more time
I eyed the golden apple, and then began to climb
"Higher still, and farther out, you'll find the one I want.
I would lay with you til kingdom come, if you picked that apricot for me, my love, if you picked that apricot for me"

Higher still and farther out I climbed / Straining with all my might
And looking back down on Lilybelle, I saw her face beaming with delight
When suddenly the wind picked up, I jolted from the shock
The side of Lily's face looked as if shattered by a rock
The wind revealed the fatal wound her hair of blond did hide
I lost my grip, the branch it slipped, darkness fell over my eyes

The oppresive July heat had lifted at dusk / And so I slowly rose
The rocky soil had scraped my skin / And torn at all my clothes
I turned to inspect the stone where I had found my head
And suddenly my blood went cold, my heart it filled with dread
Two dates were scrawled upon it, and a name I knew too well
I turned and fled that place in fright, left behind my sweet Lilybelle.