Released - July 1967
#1 for weeks of August 26 & September 2, 9 and 16, 1967.
"Where are they now?" - You're probably used to seeing this most often when referring to a one hit wonder artist who has seemingly disappeared off of the face of the earth. Well, that statement more than applies for singer/songwriter Bobbie Gentry. Hailing from Mississippi, she was also a groundbreaking artist who wrote and produced her own material. Then, in the early 1970's, she decided to quit music forever. Naturally, due to her one hit status and the fact that she has made no public reappearances since, many have forgotten about her, and her only #1 hit, "Ode To Billie Joe".
While "Billie Joe" wasn't Bobbie's first single (She released her first material in 1964), it was the song that jump started her career and also became the title track of her first album. It is also a song that left me with mixed emotions the first time I ever heard it. The basic premise of the song is a mysterious Billie Joe McAllister jumps off the Tallahatchie Bridge to his death. What threw me off during my first listen is the fact that this bit of narrative is interrupted frequently and the subject keeps on being changed. Furthermore, by the end of the song, we are left with no answers as to why Billie Joe jumped.
Then, as I listened to the song multiple times, I not only got the underlying message in the song, but it hit me rather deep. The main body of the song takes place during a casual family dinner, and as the narrator brings up the news of the demise of Billie Joe, her family all have different reactions. These reactions range from mild sympathy to total indifference.
The symbolism here is that the father represents anyone who shows no reaction to the news of someone's death that they had no connection to. The lyrics that frequently change the subject to dinner and food are ways of showing how while others are in mourning, life goes on for those unaffected. It's quite a powerful message, and one I've experience first hand.
Wow, all this on just the lyrics, and I haven't even gotten into the music or vocals yet. Musically, "Ode To Billie Joe" is simple with Bobbie on acoustic guitar, accompanied by a small string section. Both of these instrumental components add a very haunting and ghostly nature to the song. Bobbie's vocals are a nice blend of country and soul music. Perhaps it is this blending of styles and cultures that ensured the song's hit status on the pop charts.
Despite "Ode To Billie Joe" being Bobbie's only #1 hit in the US, she still had two other #1's on the UK and Canadian Country charts. One of her final charting songs from late 1969, "Fancy" has themes that anticipated the rising feminist movement, and a very Dusty Springfield-esque vocal performance. Unfortunately, after 1971, that's all Bobbie wrote, literally. Bobbie Gentry has barely been heard from since, which is a shame as who knows where else her music career might have taken her.
Final Verdict - "Ode To Billie Joe" is a grower. It didn't do much for me the first few times I heard it, but once it clicked, I found an appreciation for the piece. It's certainly one of the more unique #1's I've encountered so far, and if you give it some time, I'm sure you'll find it fascinating as well.
Coming Up Next - "The Letter" by The Box Tops
Until Next Time - I'm Dr. Rock, and I still want to know why Billie Joe jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge -
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