Saint Swithun in popular culture

Saint Swithun has appeared many times in popular culture.[1]

• Frank Sinatra provided advice to "reluctant pop star" George Michael and referenced St. Swithin's Day in his letter.[2]

• The 1981 song "Night of the Vampire" by Roky Erickson references the titular vampire as having been born on St. Swithin's Day.

• The last thing that Jane Austen wrote was a poem about the Winchester races, which features Saint Swithin as the antagonist of the race attendees. She has the saint say, "Oh, subjects rebellious, Oh Venta depraved/ When once we are buried you think we are dead/ But behold me Immortal. --By vice you're enslaved/ You have sinn'd & must suffer...Ye cannot but know my command o'er July,/ Henceforward I'll triumph in shewing my powers,/ Shift your race as you will it shall never be dry/ The curse upon Venta is July in showers." Jane Austen died three days after writing this poem, and was shortly thereafter buried in St. Swithin's Cathedral, Winchester.