Return To Summerisle

Album: Love and Murder (2008)

Songfacts®:

  • The Summer Isles is an archipelago close to the coast of Scotland, but Summerisle is an entirely mythical island which featured in the cult low budget British psychological horror/suspense film The Wicker Man.

    "Return To Summerisle" was written by Troy Southgate, composed by Butow Maler, and recorded between England and Germany between 2007 and 2009. In a June 2010 interview with Songfacts, Southgate said of this song it "is just a fantasy about the character in The Wicker Man played by Britt Eckland. The comment about her face is just an echo of what was, a memory."

    The character alluded to is also the subject of "The Landlord's Daughter" and "Willow's Song." The principal - and doomed - character of The Wicker Man is David Howie, a police officer who is lured to the island on the pretext of investigating a crime, but in reality he is to be sacrificed by being burned alive inside the Wicker Man. This thoughtful song is written from his perspective, or possibly from the perspective of his ghost. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

AC/DC

AC/DCFact or Fiction

Does Angus really drink himself silly? Did their name come from a sewing machine? See if you can spot the real stories about AC/DC.

Rickie Lee Jones

Rickie Lee JonesSongwriter Interviews

Rickie Lee Jones on songwriting, social media, and how she's handling Trump.

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Grunge Bands Quiz

Grunge Bands QuizMusic Quiz

If the name Citizen Dick means anything to you, there's a chance you'll get some of these right.

Kerry Livgren of Kansas

Kerry Livgren of KansasSongwriter Interviews

In this talk from the '80s, the Kansas frontman talks turning to God and writing "Dust In The Wind."

Songs Discussed in Movies

Songs Discussed in MoviesSong Writing

Bridesmaids, Reservoir Dogs, Willy Wonka - just a few of the flicks where characters discuss specific songs, sometimes as a prelude to murder.