Bobby Gentry – Ode to Billie Joe (1967)

About the song

“Ode to Billie Joe” by Bobbie Gentry is a captivating and enigmatic song that has intrigued listeners since its release in 1967. Written and performed by Bobbie Gentry, this song stands out not only for its haunting melody and poignant lyrics but also for the storytelling prowess that Gentry brings to the table.

The song was featured on Gentry’s debut album, “Ode to Billie Joe,” which was released in the same year. The album itself was a commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 200 chart. The single “Ode to Billie Joe” also achieved remarkable success, climbing to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and remaining there for four weeks. Its popularity was evident not only in the United States but also internationally, marking Bobbie Gentry as a significant voice in the music industry.

“Ode to Billie Joe” tells a story set in the rural South, centered around the mysterious death of Billie Joe McAllister, who, as revealed in the song, jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge. The song unfolds through a series of conversations around the dinner table, where the family discusses mundane topics juxtaposed with the tragic news of Billie Joe’s death. This storytelling technique, combined with Gentry’s evocative vocal delivery, creates a sense of deep intrigue and melancholy.

One of the most compelling aspects of the song is its ambiguity. Gentry never reveals why Billie Joe jumped off the bridge, leaving listeners to ponder and speculate. This open-ended narrative has fueled countless interpretations and discussions over the years, making “Ode to Billie Joe” a timeless piece that continues to resonate with new generations of listeners.

Bobbie Gentry wrote the song herself, and it was produced by Kelly Gordon. The minimalist arrangement, featuring Gentry’s guitar and a sparse string section, allows the lyrics to take center stage, drawing listeners into the story. The song’s success was a pivotal moment in Gentry’s career, establishing her as a talented songwriter and a unique voice in the world of music.

In terms of accolades, “Ode to Billie Joe” earned Gentry several Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. The song’s impact extended beyond music, inspiring a 1976 film adaptation that delved deeper into the fictional backstory of Billie Joe McAllister.

“Ode to Billie Joe” remains a standout track in Bobbie Gentry’s discography, celebrated for its masterful storytelling, haunting melody, and the mysterious atmosphere it evokes. It is a song that has stood the test of time, continuing to captivate and intrigue listeners with its unresolved narrative and emotional depth.

Video

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