William Alwyn
British · 20th century
British composer who composed the music for the 1947 film Odd Man Out, and great-grandfather of actor Joe Alwyn.
Connection to Taylor Swift
British composer of the score for the 1947 film Odd Man Out. Great-grandfather of Joe Alwyn, whose pen name 'William Bowery' (used co-writing songs with Taylor including exile, champagne problems, and betty) was chosen in his honour. The Alwyn lineage is what anchors the Odd Man Out allusion in So Long, London.
Notable Works
- Film score for Odd Man Out (1947); concert works including Symphony No. 1 (1949)
Appears in the Archive
Context within the Archive
Odd Man Out (1947) score; William Bowery pen-name lineage
“I didn't opt in to be your odd man out”
William Alwyn composed the score for the 1947 film Odd Man Out, the sustained allusion running through So Long, London. Alwyn was the great-grandfather of Joe Alwyn, the relationship behind the song, and Joe adopted the pen name 'William Bowery' in his honour when co-writing songs with Taylor (exile, champagne problems, betty). This biographical lineage is what anchors the Odd Man Out reading as a substantive allusion rather than incidental film-fandom from Uncle Jerry, the song's connection to the film is also a connection to Joe Alwyn's family history.