Willow's Song
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"Willow's Song" is a ballad by American composer
Paul Giovanni Paul Giovanni (June 2, 1933 – June 17, 1990) was an American playwright, actor, director, singer and musician. Giovanni is best known for writing the music for the 1973 British horror film ''The Wicker Man''. Early years Giovanni was born in A ...
for the
1973 Events January * January 1 - The United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Denmark enter the European Economic Community, which later becomes the European Union. * January 15 – Vietnam War: Citing progress in peace negotiations, U.S. ...
film ''
The Wicker Man ''The Wicker Man'' is a 1973 British folk horror film directed by Robin Hardy and starring Edward Woodward, Britt Ekland, Diane Cilento, Ingrid Pitt, and Christopher Lee. The screenplay by Anthony Shaffer, inspired by David Pinner's 1967 nov ...
'' It is the best-known song from the film, and 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 Pagans may refer to: * Paganism, a group of pre-Christian religions practiced in the Roman Empire * Modern Paganism, a group of contemporary religious practices * Order of the Vine, a druidic faction in the ''Thief'' video game series * Pagan's ...
. While staying at the
Green Man The Green Man is a legendary being primarily interpreted as a symbol of rebirth, representing the cycle of new growth that occurs every spring. The Green Man is most commonly depicted in a sculpture, or other representation of a face which is ...
Pub, Sergeant Howie (
Edward Woodward Edward Albert Arthur Woodward, OBE (1 June 1930 – 16 November 2009) was an English actor and singer. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he began his career on stage. Throughout his career, he appeared in productions ...
) is roused from prayer by the landlord's daughter Willow, played by
Britt Ekland Britt Ekland (; born Britt-Marie Eklund; 6 October 1942) is a Swedish actress, model and singer. She appeared in numerous films in her heyday throughout the 1960s and 1970s, including roles in '' The Double Man'' (1967), ''The Night They Raided ...
, who sings the erotic ballad through the adjoining wall of their separate bedrooms while completely
naked Nudity is the state of being in which a human is without clothing. The loss of body hair was one of the physical characteristics that marked the biological evolution of modern humans from their hominin ancestors. Adaptations related to h ...
. The song is an attempt to seduce Howie by accentuating Willow's sensuality. The music is played by the band
Magnet A magnet is a material or object that produces a magnetic field. This magnetic field is invisible but is responsible for the most notable property of a magnet: a force that pulls on other ferromagnetic materials, such as iron, steel, nickel, ...
. According to the film's associate musical director
Gary Carpenter Gary Carpenter is an animation director, comedy writer, and creator of King Nutter - the site that monitors ''eBay'' items in the news. His animated series Celebrity High (2001) for Channel 4 / E4 / Talkback earned him finalist as Director of ...
, the screen version was sung by Rachel VerneyGary Carpenter (2000)
The Wicker Man: Settling the Score
/ref> (although some have believed that it was sung by the Scottish jazz singer
Annie Ross Annabelle McCauley Allan Short (25 July 193021 July 2020), known professionally as Annie Ross, was a British-American singer and actress, best known as a member of the jazz vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks & Ross. Early life Ross was born in Surr ...
). There are two different album versions of
The Wicker Man soundtrack ''The Wicker Man'' is the soundtrack to The Wicker Man (1973 film), the 1973 film of the same name. Composed, arranged and recorded by Paul Giovanni and Magnet (band), Magnet, it contains folk songs performed by characters in the film (includin ...
. The 1998 version released by
Trunk Records Trunk Records is a British independent record label, which specialises mainly in lost film scores, unreleased TV music, library music, old advertising jingles, art, sexploitation and kitsch releases. It was founded in 1995 by Jonny Trunk, and ...
features the film version of the song. The 2002 version released by Silva Screen features an alternate recording in which
Lesley Mackie Lesley Mackie (born 10 June 1951) is a British actress, known for her Olivier Award-winning performance as Judy Garland in the original London cast of '' Judy''. She is also known for her role as Daisy in the horror films ''The Wicker Man'' and ...
(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".David Bartholomew (1977)
The Wicker Man
''
Cinefantastique ''Cinefantastique'' is an American horror, fantasy, and science fiction film magazine. History The magazine originally started as a mimeographed fanzine in 1967, then relaunched as a glossy, offset printed quarterly in 1970 by publisher/editor ...
'' vol 7, no 3
One couplet in the song is adapted from a poem by
George Peele George Peele (baptised 25 July 1556 – buried 9 November 1596) was an English translator, poet, and dramatist, who is most noted for his supposed but not universally accepted collaboration with William Shakespeare on the play ''Titus Andronicus' ...
, 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).The verse is not included in
Thomas Ravenscroft Thomas Ravenscroft ( – 1635) was an English musician, theorist and editor, notable as a composer of rounds and catches, and especially for compiling collections of British folk music. Little is known of Ravenscroft's early life. He prob ...
's ''Deuteromelia'' (1609); but does appear on
Christopher Hogwood Christopher Jarvis Haley Hogwood (10 September 194124 September 2014) was an English conductor, harpsichordist, writer, and musicologist. Founder of the early music ensemble the Academy of Ancient Music, he was an authority on historically info ...
's recording ''Music from the time of Elizabeth I'' (1992). On
The City Waites The City Waites is a British early music ensemble. Formed in the early 1970s, they specialise in English music of the 16th and 17th centuries from the street, tavern, theatre and countryside — the music of ordinary people. They endeavour to appea ...
' disc ''How the World Wags'' ( Hyperion, 1980), it is said to have been taken from a singer in a present-day folk clu

"I saw a maid milk a bull. Fie, man, fie. / I saw a maid milk a bull, who's the fool now? / I saw a maid milk a bull, at every pull a bucket full. / Thou hast well drunken, man, who's the fool now?"


Cover versions

The song has been covered several times, notably as "How Do", on the
Sneaker Pimps Sneaker Pimps are an English electronic music band, formed in Hartlepool in 1994. They are best known for their debut album, ''Becoming X'' (1996), and its singles " 6 Underground" and "Spin Spin Sugar". The band takes its name from an article ...
' 1996 album, ''
Becoming X ''Becoming X'' is the debut studio album by English electronic band Sneaker Pimps. It was first released on 19 August 1996 in the United Kingdom by Clean Up Records and on 25 February 1997 in the United States by Virgin Records. The album marked ...
''. This version also appeared in an erotic scene in the 2006 horror film ''
Hostel A hostel is a form of low-cost, short-term shared sociable lodging where guests can rent a bed, usually a bunk bed in a dormitory, with shared use of a lounge and sometimes a kitchen. Rooms can be mixed or single-sex and have private or shared b ...
'' and the 1997 Spanish film ''
Abre Los Ojos ''Open Your Eyes'' ( es, Abre los ojos, links=no) is a 1997 Spanish film co-written, co-scored and directed by Alejandro Amenábar and co-written by Mateo Gil. It stars Eduardo Noriega, Penélope Cruz, Chete Lera, Fele Martínez and Najwa Nimri. ...
.'' Other covers include: * A version by
The Mock Turtles The Mock Turtles are an English indie rock band, formed in Middleton, Greater Manchester, in 1985, who enjoyed some success in the early 1990s. Their most famous song " Can You Dig It?", which was released in the UK in 1991, charted at numb ...
on their 1991 album ''
Turtle Soup Turtle soup, also known as Terrapin soup, is a soup or stew made from the meat of turtles. Differing versions of the soup exist in some cultures and are viewed as a delicacy. Versions China In China, and in several countries in Southeast Asi ...
'' * A version by the French pop band
Autour de Lucie Autour de Lucie is a French pop rock band, founded by vocalist Valérie Leulliot, guitarist Olivier Durand and bassist Fabrice Dumont. Their albums were released in France on Le Village Vert, and in North America on Nettwerk (first three) and Uni ...
titled ''Island'' with alternative lyrics on the 1994 album '' L'Échappée belle'' * A version by
Nature and Organisation Nature 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. Ov ...
on the 1994 EP ''A Dozen Summers Against the World'' and the 1995 LP '' Beauty Reaps the Blood of Solitude'' with vocals by
Rose McDowall Rose McDowall (née Porter; born 21 October 1959) is a Scottish musician, forming Strawberry Switchblade with Jill Bryson in 1981. History McDowall was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1959. Her first venture into music was in the Poems, an art-pun ...
. * A version by Sally Doherty and the Sumacs on their 2000 album ''On the Outside'' * A version by the indie band Milky appears on the compilation "Songs For The Jet Set 2000" * A version by
Lush Lush may refer to: People Music * Lush (band), a British rock band * ''Lush'' (Mitski album), a 2012 album by Mitski * ''Lush'' (Snail Mail album), a 2018 album by Snail Mail * "Lush", a single by Skepta featuring Jay Sean * ''Lush 3'', a si ...
guitarist
Emma Anderson Emma Anderson (born 10 June 1967) is an English musician. She is best known for being a songwriter, guitarist and singer in the shoegazing/Britpop band Lush. Musical career Born in Wimbledon, London, the adopted daughter of a former army offi ...
's band
Sing-Sing Sing Sing Correctional Facility, formerly Ossining Correctional Facility, is a maximum-security prison operated by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision in the village of Ossining, New York. It is about north o ...
on their 2001 "Tegan" single * A version by the British rock band
Doves Columbidae () is a bird family consisting of doves and pigeons. It is the only family in the order Columbiformes. These are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills that in some species feature fleshy ceres. They primarily ...
on their 2003 ''
Lost Sides ''Lost Sides'' is a compilation album by the band Doves. The original incarnation of ''Lost Sides'' was a promotional-only CD released in 2001, and only featured the B-sides from the singles taken from the band's debut album '' Lost Souls''. The ...
'' album * A version by
Faith and the Muse Faith and the Muse is an American rock band composed of Monica Richards and William Faith. Their music encompasses many genres, from folk music to dark wave, drawing on many sources and influences, notably Dead Can Dance. Richards is the primary ...
on their 2003 album ''The Burning Season'' * A version by
Seafood Seafood is any form of sea life regarded as food by humans, prominently including fish and shellfish. Shellfish include various species of molluscs (e.g. bivalve molluscs such as clams, oysters and mussels, and cephalopods such as octopus an ...
on the 2004 album ''
As the Cry Flows ''As 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" ...
'' * A version by
Isobel Campbell Isobel Campbell (born 27 April 1976) is a Scottish singer, songwriter and cellist. She rose to prominence at age nineteen as a member of the indie pop band Belle & Sebastian, but left the group to pursue a solo career, first as The Gentle Waves ...
on her 2006 album '' Milkwhite Sheets'' * A version by
Anna Oxygen Anna Jordan Huff is an American multi-media artist, composer, producer and actress best known by her stage name Anna Oxygen. After starting her music career as a member of the Space Ballerinas, a synthpop group then based in Olympia, she reco ...
on her 2006 album '' This Is an Exercise'' * A version by U.K indie dance group
The Go! Team The Go! Team are an English six-piece band from Brighton, England. The band initially began as a solo project conceived by Ian Parton; however, after the unexpected success of The Go! Team's debut album, '' Thunder, Lightning, Strike'', Parton r ...
, appearing as a bonus track on their 2007 album ''
Proof of Youth ''Proof of Youth'' is the second studio album by English band The Go! Team. It was released on 10 September 2007 in the United Kingdom by Memphis Industries and a day later in the United States by Sub Pop. ''Proof of Youth'' was preceded by t ...
'' * A version b
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 Kelli Ali, also known as Kelli Dayton (born 30 June 1974), is a British vocalist, who was formerly the lead singer of the trip hop group Sneaker Pimps before going on to a solo career. Career Before Sneaker Pimps, Ali was part of a group called ...
, formerly Kelli Dayton of the
Sneaker Pimps Sneaker Pimps are an English electronic music band, formed in Hartlepool in 1994. They are best known for their debut album, ''Becoming X'' (1996), and its singles " 6 Underground" and "Spin Spin Sugar". The band takes its name from an article ...
, on her 2009 LP ''Butterfly'' * A version by
Daniel Licht Daniel Licht (March 13, 1957 – August 2, 2017) was an American soundtrack composer and musician, best known for writing the score of Showtime TV drama series ''Dexter''. Life and career Licht grew up in suburban Detroit and attended the Roep ...
for the 2012
Konami , is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational video game company, video game and entertainment company headquartered in Chūō, Tokyo, Chūō, Tokyo, it also produces and distributes trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, pachinko machin ...
video game Silent Hill: Downpour * A version can be heard in the 1998 anime
Blue Gender ''Blue Gender'' is a Japanese anime television series created by Ryōsuke Takahashi, the creator of ''Armored Trooper Votoms'' and ''Gasaraki'', broadcast in Japan from 1999 to 2000 and spanning 26 episodes. ''Blue Gender'' was animated by th ...
in episode 06 "Relation" * A version by Robert Reed on the 2014 EP ''Willow's Song'' with vocals by Angharad Brinn * A version by Gwendolyn Snowdon from her 2018 album ''Three Strand Braid'' * A version by Katy J Pearson from her 2022 album ''Sound of the Morning'' In addition, a sample of the song was also used by
British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...
indie Indie is a short form of "independence" or "independent"; it may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Gaming *Independent video game development, video games created without financial backing from large companies *Indie game, any game (board ...
band
Pulp Pulp may refer to: * Pulp (fruit), the inner flesh of fruit Engineering * Dissolving pulp, highly purified cellulose used in fibre and film manufacture * Pulp (paper), the fibrous material used to make paper * Molded pulp, a packaging material * ...
on "Wickerman", from their 2001 album ''
We Love Life ''We Love Life'' is the seventh and final studio album by English rock band Pulp, released on 22 October 2001 by Island Records. It reached number six on the UK Albums Chart, with a total chart stay of only three weeks. Written and recorded aft ...
''.


References

{{The Wicker Man 1973 songs Songs written for films Psychedelic folk songs British folk songs