I just re-read that chorus to Red Apple Juice:

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.

-snip-

And now I'm thinking these words were voiced by the woman, and not the man.

Also "rocking the cradle" may have a dual meaning or may not refer to an actual cradle at all, but instead have a "coded" sexual meaning. I'm suggesting this because the African American blues phrase "rock & roll" meant "sexual intercourse". If that is so, the woman singing these words might have been wondering who's gonna be loving her man {making love to her man} when she's gone.

Of course, these interpretations may be wrong. But, then again, some of them {all of them?} may be right.

:o)