First of all, the song is sort of like John Prine's "Angel From Montgomery," in the sense that it's written (and traditionally performed by) men, but from the perspective of a woman.
I always thought this song was about a pregnant woman whose lover/husband/whatever ran out. When she wore her apron low (before she was pregnant or before she started showing,) she couldn't keep the man from her door. Once she started moving her apron higher in order to accomodate her swelling belly and the pregnancy was apparent, the guy took off.
First of all, the song is sort of like John Prine's "Angel From Montgomery," in the sense that it's written (and traditionally performed by) men, but from the perspective of a woman.
I always thought this song was about a pregnant woman whose lover/husband/whatever ran out. When she wore her apron low (before she was pregnant or before she started showing,) she couldn't keep the man from her door. Once she started moving her apron higher in order to accomodate her swelling belly and the pregnancy was apparent, the guy took off.