As I looked at the list of songs, this one definitely caused a lot more consideration that most.

Based on a old song collected by Cecil Sharp (according to a contemporary interview with Paul Giovanni the older version was weirder, possibly referring to “The Hostesses Daughter” which while pretty rude isn’t as bawdy as what Shaffer turned it into), its a bunch of old men singing lewdly about a young woman.

In the film its presented in such a jolly manner and in the old version of the film, you’re left wondering if its all just some crude jokes or are they actually intimately familiar with her? However, the DVD age brought us the longer cut found in Roger Corman’s office and we see Lord Summerisle bringing the young man to Willow.

This context makes us look at this song in a different light. It also made me wonder – “What sort of maniac would actually want to cover this?”

Andrew Liles started out as solo artist at the start of the century putting out CDRs but rose to prominence through his work with Nurse With Wound and Current 93. While still a core part of those acts, he’s continued as a solo artist and also worked with the likes of Faust, The Groundhogs [you HAVE to hear his remix of “Split”], Peter Strickland and Maniac (of Mayhem!).

Liles’ version is very fearless, never flinching from the possible disturbing implications of what lies behind the song. In fact, he amplifies them, creating a genuinely horrifying waltz of madness.