This is based on a true story. Billie didn't delete himself. He and his friends used to show up at this bridge that was half collasped. They'd jump off it to swim in the river. On this day Billie didn't look before jumping. There was a log floating by, he hit his head on it. By the time his friends got to him he was already too far gone to save. As the dad said "Billie Joe didn't have a lick of sense". He should have looked before he lept.off the bridge. The dad was being cruel without realizing it by his reaction.
"Ode to Billie Joe" won 3 Grammy's having being nominated for 8 Grammy Awards. She was just being signed to Capitol Records and they asked if she had a 'B' side for her 1st single 'Mississippi Delta'. She submitted 'Ode to Billy Joe' and after recording it they wisely choose it for the 'A' side instead.
Three things makes this song really good, the mystery of the story, the insight into the careless meanness of her family and her stunning voice. The simpleness of the story hides its complexity. unforgettable.
I was serving in the Army in Vietnam when this was released and it struck a chord with me. I was in a hot and dusty region and it moved me with the chaos happening all around me. Great reaction!
Her voice is mesmerizing and SO hypnotic!! Her performance is so simple! For the lack of a better word!? She's a beautiful lady AND you hang on every word?? Great song !!!!
Bobby Gentry is an American singer-songwriter who was one of the first female artists to compose & produce her own material. A lot of her songs were stories. Her biggest hit was in 1967 with "Ode To Billy Joe". Other songs are "Mississippi Delta", "Fancy", "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head", "I'll Never Fall In Love Again", "Sunday Mornin" (with Glen Campbell) etc.
This has to be one of the most beautiful and saddest songs I’ve heard. It is one of those songs that you have to listen to once in a while to feel the tone and the atmosphere of her voice, and the story.
She is a smart talented woman. She grew tired of the music industry after about a decade of being at the top of the game, and essentially disappeared from the public eye over 40 years ago. She was a part owner of the Phoenix Suns for many years, she played Vegas, and she pretty much did it her own way. Her other big song which was more of a minor hit for her, is Fancy, which Reba McEntire turned into a signature song and hit for herself.
Many people think they threw a ring off the bridge, but I am one of those who think it might have been a baby - in fact nobody knows what was in the writer's head when they wrote the lyrics, as they never confirmed or denied anything.
I would guess a miscarriage/stillborn, well before it would have been noticed by her family. I doubt that they would BOTH throw a ring from a bridge. I also doubt that the preacher would have bothered to mention an object as small as a ring being thrown from a bridge, unless he knew that it was indeed a ring. But it’s a song, so who knows.
The song is intended to be about the thoughtless cruelty that can exist in a family. Even the singer herself speaks callously of her mother's grief after her father's death.
The urban legend is the song is about the girl and Billy Joe throwing their baby off the bridge, then later Billy Joe committed suicide out of despair. Not been confirmed though
This is right up your alley. You, above most, really understand and dissect lyrical structure and interpretation. This was a treat for me to watch, personally. Thanks bud!
Shon. Love your commentary, insight, intelligence and perspective on some of the greatest music ever written! Glad you have an open mind, and are eager to expand on your music library! Music is one of the most powerful entities in our lives......... and the world benefits from it's messages!
You got the ear for great music,I love that you cover every genre,looking to learn all the time. Keep up the discovery ,I’m 70 , I’ve heard some great music in my day
You need to react to Jeannie C. Riley the song "HARPER VALLEY PTA" It's a similar era and a similar type song as , Ole to Billie Joe You'll dig it Shon , 🎯💯🔥💪🏾✌🏼
Amazing song, love her too. For lyrics and story telling, check out Bob Dylan received the Nobel Prize for literature for his lyrics, huge canon of work available
This album is incredible. My favorite song after this is The Cotton Patch, another genius storytelling song, it cracks me up every time. So sassy and awesome!
FAIRDINKUM SHON! Your observations are SO profound! Hope I used the right word there. Yeah, you are always hitting the nail dead centre. Love your work, keep it up professor!
I like to think that it was flowers they were throwing off the bridge. Just two teens in love, dropping flowers down into the water and watching them drift away, from that town, that life. Later, she is paying homage to their dream.
You should react to her song Fancy she is the original singer to Fancy not Reba Macintyre Bobbie Gentry Fancy it's not a true story but there is a movie based on this song Ode to billie joe
Bobbie was married to musician Jim Stafford for a while but after they divorced she married a millionaire businessman in Mississippi and dropped out of the scene.
I enjoyed your reaction! And I agree, that singers who perform songs they’ve written are especially moving. Her accent and how she controls her breath really add to the feeling of a hot dusty Delta day. May I ask why you don’t wear a shirt? I don’t mind but wondered. Keep discovering the old classics and enjoy!
💙 some associate song with the murder of Emmett Till, 1955, whose body was found in Tallahatchie River, many believe he was thrown off the Tallahatchie Bridge, I always wondered if Billy Joe jumped? Was it suicide? Either way- the casual cruelty at the dinner table- ouch. Nice reaction! Like that you brought up her writing 😁. Not my usual cup of tea either, but like this & her song Fancy, 1969? Thanks!
Shon, Bobbie Gentry is one gorgeous woman. I had me a crush on many of the female singers when I was 9-10 years old back in 1967-68. One singer was Marilyn McCoo of the Fifth Dimension (you MUST react to their songs), and the other was Bobbie Gentry.
Please,..! All musicians look back at the history of string instruments in music history 70,Yrs,pop rock n roll alternative!., please bring them back!..,I'm talking pop cultures,jazz blues rock late 40's on!