Come Wander With Me
Encyclopedia
"Come Wander With Me" is an episode of the American television series The Twilight Zone
.
Next to a lake, he encounters a pretty but mysterious woman, Mary-Rachael, who reluctantly plays a song for him about two lovers who meet in the woods and are torn apart by tragedy. Floyd offers to buy the song rights from her, but she claims it isn't for sale. As he tries to seduce her, a jealous young man named Billy Rayford shows up and attacks Floyd, who defends himself, killing Rayford.
Mary-Rachael's song reflects the event, and foreshadows a future attack. As Floyd runs off, he looks back and sees that Mary-Rachael's clothes have changed; she is now dressed in black, with a black shawl, mourning.
Soon, Billy Rayford's brothers arrive to chase after Floyd. As he prepares to flee, Mary-Rachael begs him to stay, hoping things will be different "this time". She implies that these same events have occurred before. Ignoring her, he runs away and finds himself back at the shop in the woods. The old man declines to help him hide, and in his anger, Floyd kills the old man, then hides among the old musical instruments in the shop.
Billy Rayford's three brothers arrive at the shop, see the old man's body, and when Floyd bumps a music box, the brothers close in on him and shoot him. The camera returns to the image of the tombstone in the first scene, thus fulfilling the prophecy within the song that Floyd would die.
auditioned for the role of Mary-Rachael, but was so nervous during the audition she was rejected. Although this was the third-to-last episode broadcast, this was the last episode in the series to be filmed. (The last original episode to be broadcast was "The Bewitchin' Pool
". The very last episode to be broadcast during the original run -- as a repeat -- was "The Jeopardy Room
".)
and sung by actress Bonnie Beecher. The song is built into the story. It builds verse by verse together with the events in the episode. Parts of the lyrics are not complete, since some verses are not sung in full. The song has been used in several places since its 1964 broadcast. It was covered by The Gathering
's former vocalist Anneke Van Giersbergen
on her solo record Air, released under the moniker of Agua de Annique
. It was featured on the soundtrack of Vincent Gallo
's 2003 film The Brown Bunny
. It was also used as background music in Belgian director Koen Mortier's 2006 television commercial "Angels" for Dutch insurance company RVS. The ad shows flying men with open umbrellas inspired by René Magritte
's Golconda
. Lacoste also used it in an ad for their fragrance "Love of PInk". It was also covered by the band British Sea Power
for their Man Of Aran
soundtrack, and sung by Cedric Bixler-Zavala of The Mars Volta during the Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Group tour in 2011.
The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone is an American television anthology series created by Rod Serling. Each episode is a mixture of self-contained drama, psychological thriller, fantasy, science fiction, suspense, or horror, often concluding with a macabre or unexpected twist...
.
Synopsis
The "Rock-A-Billy Kid," Floyd Burney, arrives at a small town in search of a new song. He is directed to a dilapidated shop in the woods run by a reclusive old man. After his offer of money in exchange for an original song is rebuffed, Floyd hears a voice singing and wanders off through the woods, not seeing a nearby tombstone inscribed with his name.Next to a lake, he encounters a pretty but mysterious woman, Mary-Rachael, who reluctantly plays a song for him about two lovers who meet in the woods and are torn apart by tragedy. Floyd offers to buy the song rights from her, but she claims it isn't for sale. As he tries to seduce her, a jealous young man named Billy Rayford shows up and attacks Floyd, who defends himself, killing Rayford.
Mary-Rachael's song reflects the event, and foreshadows a future attack. As Floyd runs off, he looks back and sees that Mary-Rachael's clothes have changed; she is now dressed in black, with a black shawl, mourning.
Soon, Billy Rayford's brothers arrive to chase after Floyd. As he prepares to flee, Mary-Rachael begs him to stay, hoping things will be different "this time". She implies that these same events have occurred before. Ignoring her, he runs away and finds himself back at the shop in the woods. The old man declines to help him hide, and in his anger, Floyd kills the old man, then hides among the old musical instruments in the shop.
Billy Rayford's three brothers arrive at the shop, see the old man's body, and when Floyd bumps a music box, the brothers close in on him and shoot him. The camera returns to the image of the tombstone in the first scene, thus fulfilling the prophecy within the song that Floyd would die.
Production notes
According to The Twilight Zone Companion, Liza MinnelliLiza Minnelli
Liza May Minnelli is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli....
auditioned for the role of Mary-Rachael, but was so nervous during the audition she was rejected. Although this was the third-to-last episode broadcast, this was the last episode in the series to be filmed. (The last original episode to be broadcast was "The Bewitchin' Pool
The Bewitchin' Pool
"The Bewitchin' Pool" is the final episode of the American television series The Twilight Zone.-Synopsis:Sport Sharewood and her brother Jeb live in a large, expensive house, but their mother is cold, insensitive and self-centered; their father is kinder, but still a distant and preoccupied...
". The very last episode to be broadcast during the original run -- as a repeat -- was "The Jeopardy Room
The Jeopardy Room
"The Jeopardy Room" is an episode of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone.-Synopsis:Trying to defect, former KGB Major Ivan Kuchenko is trapped inside a hotel room. Commissar Vassiloff, a hitman, and Boris, his assistant, are watching him from a room across the street...
".)
The song ("Come Wander With Me")
The "Come Wander With Me" song was composed by Jeff AlexanderJeff Alexander
Jeff Alexander was an American conductor, arranger, and composer of film, radio and television scores.-Career:...
and sung by actress Bonnie Beecher. The song is built into the story. It builds verse by verse together with the events in the episode. Parts of the lyrics are not complete, since some verses are not sung in full. The song has been used in several places since its 1964 broadcast. It was covered by The Gathering
The Gathering (band)
The Gathering is a Dutch alternative rock band, founded in 1989 by brothers Hans and René Rutten and vocalist Bart Smits in the small city of Oss, North Brabant....
's former vocalist Anneke Van Giersbergen
Anneke van Giersbergen
Anneke van Giersbergen is the former lead singer of the Dutch progressive/alternative rock band The Gathering which she departed in August 2007. Since then, she has been involved in a solo project called Agua de Annique which also included her husband & drummer of the band, Rob Snijders...
on her solo record Air, released under the moniker of Agua de Annique
Agua de Annique
Agua de Annique is the solo project of the former The Gathering vocalist, Anneke van Giersbergen.- History :The project was announced June 5, 2007, the same day that both The Gathering and Anneke van Giersbergen issued separate announcements that van Giersbergen would leave the band in August.She...
. It was featured on the soundtrack of Vincent Gallo
Vincent Gallo
Vincent Gallo is an Italian-American film director and actor. Though he has had minor roles in mainstream films such as Goodfellas, he is most associated with independent movies, including Buffalo '66, which he wrote, directed, did the music for and starred in; The Brown Bunny, which he also...
's 2003 film The Brown Bunny
The Brown Bunny
The Brown Bunny is a 2003 independent American art house film written, produced and directed by actor Vincent Gallo about a motorcycle racer on a cross-country drive who is haunted by memories of his former lover. The film had its world premiere at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival to boos and catcalls...
. It was also used as background music in Belgian director Koen Mortier's 2006 television commercial "Angels" for Dutch insurance company RVS. The ad shows flying men with open umbrellas inspired by René Magritte
René Magritte
René François Ghislain Magritte[p] was a Belgian surrealist artist. He became well known for a number of witty and thought-provoking images...
's Golconda
Golconda (painting)
Golconda is an oil painting on canvas by Belgian surrealist René Magritte, painted in 1953. It is usually housed at the Menil Collection in Houston, Texas....
. Lacoste also used it in an ad for their fragrance "Love of PInk". It was also covered by the band British Sea Power
British Sea Power
British Sea Power are an indie rock band based in Brighton, England, although three of the band members originally come from Kendal in Cumbria. Critics have likened their sound to a variety of groups, from The Cure and Joy Division to the Pixies and Arcade Fire. The band are famed for their live...
for their Man Of Aran
Man of Aran (album)
Man Of Aran is a soundtrack album from the Brighton-based English band, British Sea Power. It was released on 18 May 2009 in the UK.The CD album was released with an accompanying DVD of the film Man Of Aran, with the album as its score....
soundtrack, and sung by Cedric Bixler-Zavala of The Mars Volta during the Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Group tour in 2011.