Willow's Song
Encyclopedia
"Willow's Song" is a ballad by American composer Paul Giovanni
for the 1973
film The Wicker Man. The lyrics are as follows:
Being the best-known song of the film, it is sometimes referred to as "The Wicker Man Song", although the film contains many other songs. The film tells the story of an upright Christian police officer investigating the disappearance of a young girl, the search for whom leads him to a remote Scottish isle inhabited by pagans
. While staying at the Green Man
pub, Sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward
) is roused from prayer by the landlord's daughter Willow, played by (Britt Ekland
), who sings this rather erotic ballad (while completely naked) through the adjoining wall of their separate bedrooms. The song is an attempt to seduce Howie by alluding to Willow's sensuality.
The music is played by the band Magnet
. According to the film's associate musical director Gary Carpenter, the screen version was sung by Rachel Verney (although some have believed that it was sung by the Scottish jazz singer Annie Ross
). There are two different album versions of The Wicker Man soundtrack
. The 1998 version released by Trunk Records
features the film version of the song. The 2002 version released by Silva Screen features an alternate recording in which Lesley Mackie (who played Daisy in the film) sang to the same backing tracks.
According to Paul Giovanni, "The idea for the song was completely original with me -- there was no indication of what it was to be in the script except a couple of lines of absolute filth" (sourced by screenwriter Anthony Shaffer from various anthologies of lyrics that would be appropriate to spring pagan festivals). "The main thing is in the rhythm, and we used all of the old twangy instruments in there". One couplet in the song is adapted from a poem by George Peele
, part of his play The Old Wives' Tale (printed 1595). Another may be taken from a verse of the Elizabethan-period drinking song "Martin Said To His Man" (or may since have been added to it).
"Willow's Song" was also the title of a song Shakespeare used in Othello
.
' 1996 album, Becoming X
. This version also appears in the 2006 horror film Hostel and the 1997 Spanish film Abre Los Ojos
.
Other covers include:
In addition, a sample of the song was also used by British
indie band Pulp
on "Wickerman", from their 2001 album We Love Life
.
Paul Giovanni
Paul Giovanni was an American playwright, actor, director, singer and musician. New Yorker Giovanni is best known for writing the music for the 1973 British horror film The Wicker Man...
for the 1973
1973 in film
The year 1973 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*The Marx Brothers' Zeppo Marx divorces his second wife, Barbara Blakely. Blakely would later marry actor/singer Frank Sinatra....
film The Wicker Man. The lyrics are as follows:
"Heigh ho! Who is there?
No one but me, my dear.
Please come say, how do?
The things I'll give to you.
A stroke as gentle as a feather
I'll catch a rainbow from the sky
and tie the ends together.
Heigh ho! I am here.
Am I not young and fair?
Please come say, how do?
The things I'll show to you.
Would you have a wond'rous sight?
The midday sun at midnight.
Fair maid, white and red,
Comb you smooth and stroke your head.
How a maid can milk a bull!
And every stroke a bucketful."
Being the best-known song of the film, it is sometimes referred to as "The Wicker Man Song", although the film contains many other songs. The film tells the story of an upright Christian police officer investigating the disappearance of a young girl, the search for whom leads him to a remote Scottish isle inhabited by pagans
Paganism
Paganism is a blanket term, typically used to refer to non-Abrahamic, indigenous polytheistic religious traditions....
. While staying at the Green Man
Green Man
A Green Man is a sculpture, drawing, or other representation of a face surrounded by or made from leaves. Branches or vines may sprout from the nose, mouth, nostrils or other parts of the face and these shoots may bear flowers or fruit...
pub, Sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward
Edward Woodward
Edward Albert Arthur Woodward, OBE was an English stage and screen actor and singer. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art , Woodward began his career on stage, and throughout his career he appeared in productions in both the West End in London and on Broadway in New York...
) is roused from prayer by the landlord's daughter Willow, played by (Britt Ekland
Britt Ekland
Britt-Marie Ekland is a Swedish actress and singer, and a long time resident of the United Kingdom. She is best known for her roles as a Bond girl in The Man with the Golden Gun, and in the British cult horror film The Wicker Man, as well as her marriage to actor Peter Sellers, and her...
), who sings this rather erotic ballad (while completely naked) through the adjoining wall of their separate bedrooms. The song is an attempt to seduce Howie by alluding to Willow's sensuality.
The music is played by the band Magnet
Magnet (band)
Magnet were a band formed for the purpose of recording the soundtrack to the 1973 film The Wicker Man. The band were assembled by musician Gary Carpenter to perform songs composed by New York songwriter Paul Giovanni...
. According to the film's associate musical director Gary Carpenter, the screen version was sung by Rachel Verney (although some have believed that it was sung by the Scottish jazz singer Annie Ross
Annie Ross
Annie Ross is an English jazz singer, and actress, best known as a member of the trio Lambert, Hendricks & Ross.-Early years:...
). There are two different album versions of The Wicker Man soundtrack
The Wicker Man soundtrack
Composed, arranged and recorded by Paul Giovanni and Magnet, The Wicker Man soundtrack contains folk songs performed by characters in the film . For example, Lesley Mackie, who plays the character of Daisy in the film, sings the opening song, and various others in the CD Soundtrack...
. The 1998 version released by Trunk Records
Trunk Records
Trunk Records is a British independent record label, which specialises mainly in lost film scores, unreleased TV music, library music, sexploitation and kitsch releases...
features the film version of the song. The 2002 version released by Silva Screen features an alternate recording in which Lesley Mackie (who played Daisy in the film) sang to the same backing tracks.
According to Paul Giovanni, "The idea for the song was completely original with me -- there was no indication of what it was to be in the script except a couple of lines of absolute filth" (sourced by screenwriter Anthony Shaffer from various anthologies of lyrics that would be appropriate to spring pagan festivals). "The main thing is in the rhythm, and we used all of the old twangy instruments in there". One couplet in the song is adapted from a poem by George Peele
George Peele
George Peele , was an English dramatist.-Life:Peele was christened on 25 July 1556. His father, who appears to have belonged to a Devonshire family, was clerk of Christ's Hospital, and wrote two treatises on bookkeeping...
, part of his play The Old Wives' Tale (printed 1595). Another may be taken from a verse of the Elizabethan-period drinking song "Martin Said To His Man" (or may since have been added to it).
"Willow's Song" was also the title of a song Shakespeare used in Othello
Othello
The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1603, and based on the Italian short story "Un Capitano Moro" by Cinthio, a disciple of Boccaccio, first published in 1565...
.
Cover versions
The song has been covered several times, notably as "How Do", on the Sneaker PimpsSneaker Pimps
Sneaker Pimps were a British trip-hop band formed in Hartlepool, England in 1994. They are best known for their first album Becoming X and particularly the singles "6 Underground", "Spin Spin Sugar", and "Tesko Suicide" from the same album...
' 1996 album, Becoming X
Becoming X
Becoming X is the debut album from Sneaker Pimps released in 1996. The album was successful in the United Kingdom, while "6 Underground" and "Spin Spin Sugar" would become hits in the US....
. This version also appears in the 2006 horror film Hostel and the 1997 Spanish film Abre Los Ojos
Abre los ojos
Abre los ojos is a 1997 Spanish film directed by Alejandro Amenábar which was written by himself and Mateo Gil. It stars Eduardo Noriega, Penélope Cruz, Fele Martínez and Najwa Nimri...
.
Other covers include:
- A version by The Mock TurtlesThe Mock TurtlesThe Mock Turtles are a Manchester based indie rock band, formed in Middleton, Greater Manchester in 1985, who enjoyed some success in the early 1990s...
on their 1991 album Turtle SoupTurtle Soup (1991)Turtle Soup was an album released by the British indie rock band The Mock Turtles in 1991 on Imaginary Records.The album shares its name with the 1969 record Turtle Soup, released by the American psychedelic rock band The Turtles.-Track listing:... - A version by Nature and Organisation on the 1994 album Beauty Reaps the Blood of Solitude
- A version with vocals by Rose McDowallRose McDowallRose McDowall is a Scottish musician, most notably as a vocalist in the pop band Strawberry Switchblade.-History:...
on the 1994 EP A Dozen Summers Against the World and the 1995 LP Beauty Reaps the Blood of Solitude by Nature & OrganizationNature & OrganizationNature And Organisation is the creative musical works of British musician Michael Cashmore. The music of Nature And Organisation is characterized by a mix of acoustic, classical and folk structures met with abrasive electronic instrumentation.-Overview:... - A version by the indie band Milky appears on the compilation "Songs For The Jet Set 2000"
- A version by the British rock band Doves on their 2003 Lost SidesLost Sides-Charts:-Original promo CD:At the end of 2000, the original issue of Lost Sides was released as a promo-only CD . The original artwork featured the boxer from Doves' Lost Souls album, and included only the b-sides from the first album and early EPs."Crunch" and "Lost in Watts" are two tracks from...
album - A version by Faith and the MuseFaith and the MuseFaith and the Muse is an American, underground gothic/darkwave band composed of two musicians, Monica Richards and William Faith. They are well regarded in the gothic music scene as innovators and icons. Their music encompasses many genres, from folk-style songs to darker compositions. Richards is...
on their 2003 album The Burning Season - A version by SeafoodSeafood (band)Seafood were a UK band formed in London around 1996.The line-up included chief songwriter David Line , Caroline Banks and Kevin Penney who joined the band following the departure of founder-member Charles MacLeod...
on the 2004 album As the Cry FlowsAs the Cry FlowsAs the Cry Flows is an album by British band Seafood, released on 3 May 2004.-Track listing:All songs written by Seafood unless otherwise stated.#"I Dreamt We Ruled The Sun" – 5:18#"Heat Walks Against Me" – 3:36#"No Sense Of Home" – 4:31... - A version by the French pop band Autour de LucieAutour de LucieAutour de Lucie is a French pop rock band, consisting of vocalist Valérie Leulliot, guitarist Olivier Durand and bassist Fabrice Dumont. Their albums are released in France on Le Village Vert, and in North America on Nettwerk....
titled Island with alternative lyrics on the 2004 album L'Echappée BelleL'Échappée belleL'Échappée belle, an album by Autour de Lucie, was released in 1994 on the Nettwerk label. It was re-released by Nettwerk and Le Village Vert under the title Autour De Lucie with a bonus track, "Simon".-Track listing:# "L'accord parfait"... - A version by Isobel CampbellIsobel CampbellIsobel Campbell is a Scottish singer, cellist and composer in the indie and rock genres.-History:Campbell was a member of Belle & Sebastian from their formation in Glasgow in 1996 until 2002, when she departed the band for personal reasons. She played cello and keyboards with the band, and sang...
on her 2006 album Milkwhite SheetsMilkwhite SheetsMilkwhite Sheets is the fourth solo album released by former Belle & Sebastian member Isobel Campbell. The album was released on October 23, 2006. It brings traditional songs from United Kingdom and songs written by Campbell... - A version by Anna OxygenAnna OxygenAnna Oxygen is the stage name of an American musician and actress from in and around Olympia, Washington, Anna Jordan Huff.After graduating from Evergreen State College with a music degree, Huff began her musical career in the late 1990s with the novelty synth-pop group the Space Ballerinas...
on her 2006 album This Is an ExerciseThis Is an Exercise-Track listing:#"Fairy Quest" – 2:59#"Fake Pajamas" – 2:41#"Dream. Dream. Dreams." – 2:26#"March of Human" – 1:40#"Hypertension" – 3:25#"R.R.N." – 2:23#"Mechanical Fish" – 2:51#"Walk" – 2:53#"Psychic Rainbow" – 2:13#"Willow Song" – 4:08#"This Is..." – 2:27... - A version by U.K indie dance group The Go! TeamThe Go! TeamThe Go! Team are a six-piece band from Brighton, England. They combine indie rock and garage rock with a mixture of blaxploitation and Bollywood soundtracks, double dutch chants, old school hip hop and distorted guitars similar to the style of Sonic Youth. Their songs are a mix of live...
, appearing as a bonus track on their 2007 album Proof of YouthProof of YouthProof of Youth is the second studio album by Brighton band The Go! Team. It was released on September 10, 2007 in the United Kingdom and a day later in the United States.-History:... - A version by Damh the Bard on his 2008 album The Cauldron Born, this time turning it into a duet and adding an evocative electronic rhythm
- Another version by Kelli Ali, formerly Kelli Dayton of the Sneaker PimpsSneaker PimpsSneaker Pimps were a British trip-hop band formed in Hartlepool, England in 1994. They are best known for their first album Becoming X and particularly the singles "6 Underground", "Spin Spin Sugar", and "Tesko Suicide" from the same album...
, on her 2009 LP Butterfly
In addition, a sample of the song was also used by British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
indie band Pulp
Pulp (band)
Pulp are an English alternative rock band formed in Sheffield in 1978. Their lineup consists of Jarvis Cocker , Russell Senior , Candida Doyle , Mark Webber , Steve Mackey and Nick Banks ....
on "Wickerman", from their 2001 album We Love Life
We Love Life
Initial critical response to We Love Life was very positive. The album received an average score of 84 at Metacritic, based on 20 reviews. The music review online magazine Pitchfork Media placed We Love Life at number 194 on their list of top 200 albums of the 2000s.-Track listing:All songs written...
.