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“O Willow Waly” is one of the most beautifully written songs that I have ever heard. It’s a song that if one closes their eyes, they can almost in vision a couple in love lying beneath a beautiful weeping willow tree and at an instant one of them are no longer there and the other is left alone to lie and weep beside the tree. There was no need in using huge words to describe the lovers, the love lost and the broken heart of the one left behind. This song was a great selection and was a perfect fit for the ‘Henry James’ novel, (“Turn of the Screw”) UK adaptation “The Innocents,” This spooky, smart, sassy, yet suspenseful thriller, filled with mystery, intrigue, love and romance is still a great hit to this day! Isla Cameron sings the song in a soft, sweet yet somewhat innocently comforting voice that will make you bury yourself into your sofa under a blanket and settle in to watch this great movie! After seeing this movie, I wanted a music box with that song, so I called around everywhere trying to find one. I finally spoke with a man in a music store that advised me that if I were able to get that song for a music box, due to copywrite, I would probably end up paying somewhere in the amount of $10K. I immediately realized that I can just listen to it on YouTube.
The Kingston Trio released this song on their album “Something Special” in 1962 under the Folk music genre. I personally prefer the theme song by Isla Cameron over the version by the Kingston Trio. I have added both videos so each of you can listen and enjoy both versions.
“O Willow Waly”
We lay my love and I beneath the weeping willow.
But now alone I lie and weep beside the tree.
Singing ‘Oh willow waly’ by the tree that weeps with me.
Singing ‘Oh willow waly’ till my lover return to me.
We lay my love and I beneath the weeping willow.
A broken heart have I. Oh willow I die, oh willow I die.
A LITTLE PIECE OF MY HEART 
You have me on this one…never heard that song before. The Isla Cameron version is haunting…you pay attention to what she is singing.
A Weeping Willow is my favorite tree…I bought one a couple of years ago and it’s doing well.
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The Weeping Willow is my favorite tree as well. My grandparents had a huge one growing in their yard. I loved sitting under it as a little girl.
Yes, the lyrics are haunting, but my guess is that it is someone in love, but loses their love like the character in the movie named Miss Jessell did and grieved herself to death. Those songwriters back then were phenomenal. I hope you have the chance to watch the movie one day. The boy who played Miles and the girl who played Flora were some little creepy children and way too outspoken for their ages.
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I love movies so I will watch it. Songwriters were great back then…they just seemed more real. Maybe it was because they lived more of a real life without so much technology.
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I agree with you and the fact they had more time to take long walks, sit beside the sea or river and use what imagination they had. These days there is no imagination to anything, just technology. That’s no a good thing at all. I can’t wait to read your feedback. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family, Max!!
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You said it…no imagination. They don’t have to work for anything…or better yet…wait for anything. It’s instant and they don’t get a life experience like we did.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your Family!
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Thank you so much, Max!
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