Ode to Billie Joe by Bobbie Gentry

About the song

Bobbie Gentry’s “Ode to Billie Joe” is a haunting ballad that has captivated audiences for decades. Released in 1967, the song quickly topped the Billboard Pop singles chart and remains a beloved classic. Its enduring popularity is a testament to Gentry’s songwriting prowess and the song’s evocative power.

The song tells the story of a rural Mississippi family grappling with the suicide of a local boy, Billie Joe McAllister. The narrator, a young woman connected to Billie Joe, recounts the family’s reaction to the tragic news. With its sparse acoustic guitar accompaniment and haunting strings, the song creates a somber and intimate atmosphere.

Gentry’s lyrics are both enigmatic and poignant. She leaves the audience wondering about the nature of the narrator’s relationship with Billie Joe and the mysterious object they threw off the Tallahatchie Bridge. This ambiguity has fueled speculation and interpretations for years.

“Ode to Billie Joe” is more than just a catchy tune. It is a study in human nature, exploring themes of grief, loss, and the complexities of family relationships. Gentry’s portrayal of the family’s indifference to Billie Joe’s death is both disturbing and thought-provoking.

The song’s impact is undeniable. It has been covered by numerous artists, including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Joan Baez. In addition to its commercial success, “Ode to Billie Joe” has also garnered critical acclaim. It was nominated for eight Grammy Awards and has been featured on several prestigious lists, including Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

In 2023, “Ode to Billie Joe” was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress, recognizing its cultural significance. The song’s enduring appeal lies in its ability to connect with listeners on a deep emotional level. Its haunting melody and evocative lyrics continue to resonate with audiences of all ages.

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Lyrics

It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta day
I was out choppin’ cotton, and my brother was balin’ hay
And at dinner time we stopped and walked back to the house to eat
And mama hollered out the back door, y’all, remember to wipe your feet
And then she said, I got some news this mornin’ from Choctaw Ridge
Today, Billy Joe MacAllister jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge

And papa said to mama, as he passed around the blackeyed peas
Well, Billy Joe never had a lick of sense; pass the biscuits, please
There’s five more acres in the lower forty I’ve got to plow
And mama said it was shame about Billy Joe, anyhow
Seems like nothin’ ever comes to no good up on Choctaw Ridge
And now Billy Joe MacAllister’s jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge

And brother said he recollected when he, and Tom, and Billie Joe
Put a frog down my back at the Carroll County picture show
And wasn’t I talkin’ to him after church last Sunday night?
I’ll have another piece-a apple pie; you know, it don’t seem right
I saw him at the sawmill yesterday on Choctaw Ridge
And now ya tell me Billie Joe’s jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge

And mama said to me, child, what’s happened to your appetite?
I’ve been cookin’ all morning, and you haven’t touched a single bite
That nice young preacher, Brother Taylor, dropped by today
Said he’d be pleased to have dinner on Sunday, oh, by the way
He said he saw a girl that looked a lot like you up on Choctaw Ridge
And she and Billy Joe was throwing somethin’ off the Tallahatchie Bridge

A year has come and gone since we heard the news ’bout Billy Joe
And brother married Becky Thompson; they bought a store in Tupelo
There was a virus going ’round; papa caught it, and he died last spring
And now mama doesn’t seem to want to do much of anything
And me, I spend a lot of time pickin’ flowers up on Choctaw Ridge
And drop them into the muddy water off the Tallahatchie Bridge