I think this song is in reference to the book the cider house rules. I just read it, and suddenly this song seemed to make sense. I haven't seen the movie, so I don't know if the movie pertains as much. But the book is about an orphan (homer) who - at 20 - leaves the orphanage he was raised in to go live with a rich family on an apple farm. He leaves behind a girl who he promised he wouldn't leave - sunshine was what she called him. She never got over homer leaving her. Homer winds up having an affair with his best friend's wife - also the owner of the apple farm. The subplot of the book is that the head of the orphanage does abortions illegally and has trained homer to perform them. It is a complicated plot. You love homer for who he is, but hate his adultery. Honey sweet apples are rotting away.