Bobbie Gentry - Ode to Billie Joe

waniati Says:

May 7, 2012 - Memories of Exmouth WA where my father worked in the early 70s come back , especially the Northwest Coastal Highway , the one lane wonder to Carnarvon (but only after an axle breaking 300km from Exmouth ..I was 7

blindingsun Says:

May 8, 2012 - I'm 31, just a child compared to this song, but I love this.

sfkev100 Says:

May 9, 2012 - I wanted that bridge, couldn't do it.

johnsondon277 Says:

May 9, 2012 - Could the DJ at the end possibly be the late, great John Peel ? It sure sounds like him.

Mirrigold Says:

May 10, 2012 - No it's Steve Wright, who does Top of the Pops 2.

MrPierre2636 Says:

May 11, 2012 - I'm glad you didn't have that bridge.It might seem bad at times;but life is greater,and ther's always a way to figure things out.

trebell71 Says:

May 14, 2012 - Heard this today, haven't heard it in years. Brilliant.

hamslice151 Says:

May 14, 2012 - seriously

TypesALot Says:

May 15, 2012 - I love to listen to this song because no matter what, you can't help but picture what's going on in the song. Great memories.

madahad9 Says:

May 15, 2012 - My own interpretation of the song is about a girl who gets pregnant and "tossing something off the bridge" was the aborted baby. The guilt caused Billy Joe to kill himself. Not sure what lead me to this since the song is so vague and open to many interpretations. It's a great song and the movie is actually pretty good.

colleen vaughn Says:

May 15, 2012 - remember this -sad

grampazemo Says:

May 17, 2012 - Most clueless mother on the planet

andyjulie05 Says:

May 21, 2012 - This movie wasn't about Billie Joe jumping cause of guilt of throwing baby in river he jumped cause he was a victim of pedophilia he was sexually raped and couldn't live with the guilt from that. Those days it was a huge sin!

willieboy3222 Says:

May 24, 2012 - I agree with madahad9 that it was likely an aborted baby. The song is about a girl who looked a lot like you up on Chochta Ridge throwing something into the river. There was nothing at all about homosexuality, as the movie portrayed with Robbie Benson. Movie had nothing to do with the song.

robtay1963 Says:

May 25, 2012 - Man I miss the music of yesteryear when you could not only understand all the words but they told stories, Happy, sad, funny and sometimes down right tear jerking. Music today is about lights and shows, the songs seem repetitive when you can hear the words, give me the Bobby Gentrys and Terry Jacks of yesteryear anyday.

kimmmycocobuck Says:

May 25, 2012 - I wish people would quit judging music, just enjoy it. Music is like life, it is what it is. If you don't like it, don't listen to it. Move on people!!!!!!! Music for me is a space in time, HOLY I haven't heard that song in 30 years. It either brings a smile to my face or a tear.

MrFalconford Says:

May 27, 2012 - sad song, if it were true how come shes so pretty? who was the british man at the end of the recording? i often wonder if this type of interpretation/image resulted in a misunderstanding of content, however, im sure it added to the mass appeal which has overall dominated this industry very similiar to elvis, mj, patsy,aretha, elton, madonna, gugu, nixons faults and the list goes on but was it necessary?

commonman80 Says:

May 27, 2012 - This story is a Legend in the South. Rumor has it that Billy Joe (A White Young Boy) was Raped by a group of White Men After they got him drugged or drunk... Then through his body in the River... They say he was a good kid, and gentle hearted... However, because of the currents, they have never found the body... WOW!!!

theruneofdoom Says:

May 28, 2012 - OMG im 15 and i LOOOOOVE this song

TonyShelton54 Says:

May 28, 2012 - THiS takes me to the years of warm summer days in Carolina MMMM Black Eye Peas and rice..

CasualNotice Says:

May 29, 2012 - That's not really a southern legend; that's more or less the plot of the 1978(?) movie starring Robbie Benson, except that in the movie Billy Joe jumped off the bridge in shame and depression. The movie, for the record is loosely based on the song, although, to my knowledge, Ms. Gentry has repeatedly declined to confirm or deny suppositions resulting from the songs many questions.

msveronica41 Says:

May 29, 2012 - I was born in 1960 and listened to the radiio alot and Don Kershners ROCK CONCERand remember all the good ol tunes was blessed with the music I got to listen too and anjoy HIPPY FROM WAY BACK VEE...