Bobbie Gentry - Ode To Billie Joe 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 black-eyed 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 a 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
He 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 of apple pie. You know, it don't seem right
I saw him at the sawmill yesterday on Choctaw Ridge
And now you tell me Billie Joe's jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge"

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 'n' 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 wanna 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





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Bobbie Gentry Ode To Billie Joe Comments
  1. R.... T....

    I was 12 -13 when this came on the airwaves..still hauntingly beautiful song.

  2. K.... D....

    Does anyone remember the movie " Ode to Billy Joe" starring Robbie Benson? Awesome movie!!! It tells the true story from the song. 🤟🤟🤟🤟

  3. R.... B....

    The question will always be, what did they throw from the Tallahatchee bridge?

  4. J.... M....

    I miss my mom

  5. P.... S....

    still a great song

  6. P.... S....

    1968 we had mental illness and now 52 yrs the politicians argue about elect them to fix OUR Broken System but why does it take over 50 yrs to get any help cause about the same time as span and my now sick mother with Dementia and Bi Polar settings is a torn in the family whom takes care of her but the politicians keep arguing who is going to pay for it while they(Government) takes your taxes to send to foreign Governments and we just sit and suffer the tragic demise of Mental Health exclude from society

  7. A.... J....

    If you dont like this song kiss it.

  8. T.... W....

    I can listen Bobby gentry sing all day long. She very beautiful. And beautiful voice. Who's LISTENING in. 2020

  9. D.... M....

    Bobby Gentry One Gorgeous Woman

  10. J.... S....

    She has Sweet Lips!! :)

  11. A.... C....

    Wow wonderful beauty voice and lovely lady and so talented love this tune

  12. K.... H....

    sn|o|•£|op-✓_*a_-loop?bo-ard when w`ho give huh %°mk ? =?

  13. K.... C....

    Why is this song so sad ? I jumped off many bridges when I was a kid in Oxford. But let's face it it was a good track by a nice lady. U don't get them like that there's days.

  14. M.... ....

    She would hold nasty nancy's head down just long enough.

  15. I.... G....

    How many women have known a Billy Joe Mccallister??? 🙋‍♀️💖⚘

  16. L.... C....

    I remember hearing this when it first aired in 1967. Amazing song.

  17. a.... t....

    Maybe she is telling the truth

  18. D.... S....

    Which guitar she's playing?

  19. H.... F....

    2020 still strong

  20. F.... P....

    I remember the movie storing Robby Benton Linda Blair and James best was in it he's most well known for playing Roscoe p coletrain in the 70s sitcom The Dukes of Hazzard

  21. F.... P....

    Love this song It Was released in 1967 two years before I was born in 1969 and I still listen to it

  22. G.... L....

    sad song that sounds good.

  23. S.... K....

    HER VOICE!!!

  24. S.... C....

    LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT ! .. NOW BACK TO HARPER VALLEY PTA DAMN THAT WAS A GOOD 1

  25. C.... D....

    Feb 2020 and still listening to this Great song...

  26. P.... S....

    Hearing this song, now in 2020: I am reminded of the night many, many, many years ago. I was on my way to falling asleep, when I realized that my favorite Sacramento radio station, was playing this song over and over. I was so happy to hear the song repeated over and over. I did see the movie that was made many years later; the reason why Billy Joe killed himself, made sense. I am feeling goose bumps as I hear this song, now. Thanks.

  27. T.... S....

    When I was a very little kid, from as young as I can remember, my parents had that album with Glen Campbell and Bobbie Gentry on the cover. I thought she was attractive but I was too young to know about that stuff.

  28. K.... Q....

    Bobby Gentry: Wicked awesome.

  29. A.... B....

    The Howard Hughes of country music. Nobody has seen her in nearly 40 years.

  30. M.... N....

    Cotton..Muck music

  31. G.... G....

    Beautiful Lady and a classic song.

  32. D.... H....

    black eyed peas??jus sayin..

  33. l.... ....

    Oh my that Smokey/sexy speaking voice . No joke.

  34. j.... w....

    According to Bobby Gentry this song is about casual indifference and unconscious cruelty.

  35. C.... I....

    Wasn't she just so beautiful wow

  36. C.... R....

    Sing it girl,, great song, 👍

  37. l.... z....

    I vaguely remember something about Billie joe had so sexual confusion and that caused him to commit suicide anyone remembers that?

    l.... z....

    He wasn't confused sexually. According to the book he was raped by a man.

  38. b.... b....

    Who else is listening to this haunting 60s classic in 2020?

  39. D.... J....

    This woman had a beautiful voice. A class act! She delivered this song.

  40. B.... D....

    “Beautiful” that’s talent.

  41. Z.... ....

    im dancing with my mop im filling my bathtub up with dirt so i can plant rosess

  42. Z.... ....

    i remember the movie when i was 12

  43. D.... D....

    Blimey.all these later we are listeng and we're nearly 70.honest to god i cried .

  44. B.... W....

    She's a classic.

  45. J.... T....

    i was on the uss America aircraft carrier and this was a sing they played a lot on the closed speaker system. great simple tune. joel retired usn.

  46. S.... J....

    Classic example of less-is-more. Simple melody, and a story that makes you read between the lines makes for a haunting masterpiece. Thank you Bobbie Gentry.

  47. D.... P....

    Old drive in movie
    Hell daddy passed out an brother drove us home.. We got there safe an sound.. Wouldn't suggest any young ones do that today though..
    Love my daddy an brothers....
    Memories we all have them...
    Macon, ga

  48. M.... C....

    I grew up eating black eyed peas in South Georgia.

  49. A.... V....

    I have always loved this song, and Bobby Gentry, and always will.  She's amazing.

  50. G.... C....

    💚💛💞

  51. D.... M....

    love the music, love the song.

  52. L.... W....

    This song is so amazing and timeless.

  53. g.... ....

    Eyelashes.

  54. A.... C....

    2020 and likecto remind you, Bobbie Gentry also wrote and performed " Fancy",, I know Reba gets credit for it but she didn't write it❤️💋

  55. C.... C....

    I so love her music.

  56. V.... M....

    Like it

  57. d.... ....

    Who knows how many people are mentioned in this great song?

  58. s.... b....

    I lover her.

  59. p.... a....

    6:41 pm 27/0-1/2020 70116 1902 St.bernard ave 70116... jan monday 37 day aln scndnc... 401 mn afrnun... 27 20 13 6 30jan... 23dec/0-1aa/2020... 364aa\2018-2019

  60. r.... ....

    CLASS!!

  61. R.... R....

    I remember dancing to this in the moonlight at age 14 on our old "trellis bridge". Then seeing the movie about this song staring a very young Ralph Macchio.

  62. E.... H....

    Live is better than the studio version not many stars manage that.

  63. T.... J....

    1 👍 🔥

  64. T.... B....

    dont look to much into it fools just enjpy it.....duh

  65. c.... ....

    I'm gonna cry now....
    Another sleepy delta day
    Ya'll remember to wipe your feet

  66. h.... r....

    Old country song 👍

  67. M.... R....

    2020 and I love this song.

  68. W.... 1....

    Wonderful 🎶🎵✌️

  69. W.... b....

    Classic

  70. l.... t....

  71. C.... T....

    On the radio all the time in 67. I was at Ft Bragg going thru Basic when I heard it the first time. Stayed with me ever since.

  72. J.... L....

    Always loved this song!!!

  73. J.... F....

    Everybody but the narrator only wanted to know why he killed himself -- they didn't care that he was dead.

  74. N.... J....

    This gives me *CHILLS*...I remember the movie with Robbie Benson when I was maybe 10 yrs old..

    N.... J....

    Me too. We must be around the same age. I am 49.

  75. A.... Q....

    Who's here 2020

  76. C.... P....

    This song was popular when I was a young man. Has stuck in my mind for 50 years. Beau kinda shined a different light on it. He is a little sharper than most of us. My older brother committed suicide. I saw his daughter and grandson and made me cry thinking bout the people he hurt.

    C.... P....

    Beau's the man! I'm sorry for your brother.

  77. E.... M....

    You only hurt the ones you love i guess

  78. A.... Q....

    God her speaking voice😩.. so sexy

  79. d.... h....

    a true goddess

  80. m.... ....

    Yeah, that's a fucking song... damn.

  81. A.... H....

    https://youtu.be/EFd9QZG0L7c

    A.... H....

    Beau's the man!

  82. j.... ....

    Imagine being such a boring person that you comment on the YouTube upload of every song before 2000 that new music bad old music good young people these days hurr durr. It's pillow time, Boomer. It'll all be over soon

    j.... ....

    Ok Tumor.

  83. S.... R....

    Beau link up...#Beaurowcats😉

  84. e.... ....

    thank you beau

  85. 4.... ....

    A study in unconscious cruelty.....
    You're right Beau.
    As usual.

    4.... ....

    You only hurt the ones you love.

    4.... ....

    heh, hi fellow fifth estate friends

  86. G.... 2....

    I think this song is very well written and performed by Ms Gentry, and is a bit of a favourite. I also think it's about to get a bit of a serge in views, thanks to "Beau of the Fifth Column" and his video discussion (22/02/2020) of the meaning behind the lyrics...well, here's hoping it does...

  87. E.... W....

    Who’s here from that Beau video?

    E.... W....

    @jfuite "Beau of the Fifth Column" a YouTuber

    E.... W....

    @Wes Thanks. I will look up that channel.

    E.... W....

    @UCK1fxeAGWje9xL8oWFIcntw I did watch his channel's introductory video, and the Billy Joe video, and I scanned his curated playlists. I see an interesting collection of ideas and opinions, but not enough for me to subscribe. He seems a bit too libertarian for me.

    E.... W....

    @jfuite you are missing out. Even if he discusses something I may not agree with, its always thought provoking and well presented. Well worth the small amount of effort to listen

  88. g.... r....

    yeah ... Beau sent me here ....

  89. I.... S....

    Janis Joplin missed a song that she should've covered. I'm sure she would have eventually but life is short sometimes.

  90. t.... ....

    Suicidals every day, virus every season (today one from China), same characters everywhere and everyday: but no more female singer and composers like Bobbie Gentry !

  91. K.... D....

    awesome song!!

  92. J.... C....

    Gail Crichton... Way better.

  93. J.... C....

    She was and is awesome.

  94. j.... t....

    I have always thought that this is one of the most haunting songs ever written. As unique today as it was the first time I heard it way back in 1967.

  95. S.... T....

    A song like this comes around maybe once in a lifetime. The singer, the words of the song and the music, in my humble opinion, must have been inspired by the only true God/Yahweh!

    S.... T....

    Steve Trent fuck me, do christians have to make EVERYTHING about their make believe man?

  96. A.... S....

    Never Ever Ever Ever should they have made this song into that sorry movie that they,...Made....~!

  97. r.... ....

    god 1970s women were hot

  98. D.... H....

    Love this song and the movie to , great voice

  99. L.... T....

    Is this the sexiest and most alluring woman you ever saw ?