Video: Bonnie “Prince” Billy, “How About Thank You”

story Matthew Schnipper

The John Sayles movie Matewan used to play over and over on IFC about ten years ago. Rumor later had it, and credits proved, that Will Oldham, aka Bonnie “Prince” Billy, had a small role in the film. We never made it far enough through the harsh movie about 1920s coal country and never caught 17-year-old Oldham as a young preacher. Now, 22 years after Matewan’s release, Oldham has a song to soundtrack that bit of spiritual theater in “How About Thank You.” Oh when I know I lay my head down/ It’s a sweet life of dreams I deserve/ Oh I know when the sun comes again/ So a new chance, deserving is love. Bizarrely—in this video, at least—he also has his own “Dance Dance Revolution” character. (via MBV)