Bobby Gentry – Ode to Billy Joe

About the song

Let’s delve into the haunting narrative of “Ode to Billie Joe” by the talented Bobby Gentry.

Written and performed by Bobby Gentry herself, “Ode to Billie Joe” is a captivating folk ballad that tells the mysterious tale of a young man named Billy Joe McAllister, whose tragic fate unfolds against the backdrop of the Tallahatchie Bridge. Released in 1967 as the title track of Gentry’s debut album, the song quickly captivated audiences with its poignant storytelling and haunting melody.

“Ode to Billie Joe” resonated strongly with listeners, earning widespread acclaim and commercial success. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for four weeks and earned Gentry three Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist and Song of the Year.

The song’s enigmatic storyline, coupled with Gentry’s emotive vocals and evocative lyrics, sparked endless speculation and interpretation among fans and critics alike. Its ability to provoke thought and stir emotions solidified its place as one of the most iconic and enduring songs of the 20th century.

As we listen to “Ode to Billie Joe,” we’re drawn into its atmospheric world, pondering the mysteries it presents and reflecting on the deeper themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. Bobby Gentry’s masterful storytelling and compelling performance ensure that “Ode to Billie Joe” remains a timeless classic that continues to captivate and intrigue listeners to this day.

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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, Billie Joe MacAllister jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge

And papa said to mama, as he passed around the blackeyed peas
Well, Billie 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 Billie Joe, anyhow
Seems like nothin’ ever comes to no good up on Choctaw Ridge
And now Billie 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 Billie Joe was throwing somethin’ off the Tallahatchie Bridge

A year has come and gone since we heard the news ’bout Billie 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
Writer/s: Bobbie Gentry
Publisher: Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind