Hi,

This is what I have "Ripest Apple" is found in Love is Pleasing (several instances), as below in the related broadside "I'm Always drunk/Water is wide" here's the main example:

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Journal of the Irish Folk Song Society, London - Volumes 1-10 - Page 28, 1904

"The Ripest of Apples."

Folk Song, Arranged by A. CORBETT-SMITH.

I HAVE had this little song in my collection for some considerable time, and I regret that I have no note as to where it was collected. It is, I feel sure, of Irish origin, and so far as I remember it is one of those noted in America. In rendering Folk Songs such as this in which the opening verse is repeated at the end I have found it most effective to sing the last verse mezza voce and without accompaniment, merely striking the tonic chord pp at the close.

"Oh, the ripest of apples they must soon grow rotten,
And the warmest of love it must soon grow cold,
And young men's vows they must soon be forgotten;
Look out, pretty maiden, that you don't get controlled.

The seas they are deep, and I cannot wade them,
Nor have I, nor ever, the wings for to fly.
I would that my love were a jolly boatman
To ferry me over, my love and I.

(Third verse, repeat verse 1)

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I have it floating to the Greer collection in NC. i have it related to Died for Love end of "I drew my ship into the harbour"

"Come back, come back, my only true love,
   Come back, my aim one, and ease my pain;
Your voice I knew not, your face I saw not,
   Oh John my heart will break in twain."

The ripest apple is soonest rotten,
The hottest love is soonest cold;
Seldom seen, is soon forgotten,
True love is timid, so be not bold.

A brisk and braw stanza is found in Died for Love.

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It's found in courting songs of Roud 146, as a floater.

Not enough to give Ripest Apple any identity. There are a couple more instances I haven't checked on,

Richie