The mystique of this song is NO ONE, knows what it is about, it is a poem. Read into it anything You want and make it your own BUT! Please let everyone else do the same
Most profs are published. Its a requirement. Being published and being a known sucessful author are way two different things.anyone can get "published" especially these days. Apparently you are a failed author to have so much rage over 2 people discussing a song. Calm down. Its youtube. You're the only one "pontificating".
Cine---well if you want to read a book like a college lit prof looking for allegories,symbolic meanings,etc be my guest. I prefer to listen to the story in my head as I read. Despite college profs insistence, I doubt too many good authors write in allegories and symbols. We add those in ourselves.I Never had a college lit prof that wasn't a failed writer that thought they knew more about a work than the author themselves.
Really? What a bitch you are. At my college all my lit. profs were published and highly successful. Cinemavirtualis has the right to interpret it any way Cine wants. Plus the indicator that it was interpreted by the film in that fashion. Did you miss that? Allegory and symbol are everywhere in "good authors" works, you just haven't read any of them. Save your pontificating and rotten grand-standing for someone who deserves it.
Kudos to the brilliant Bobbie Gentry for this epic piece of work.
According to the book it was a baby doll thrown off the bridge. It was a doll she and billy used to play house with. After he realized he was gay they knew their dreams of a family wouldn't happen so they threw the doll over.
@seymourbbest - She played with the doll (named Benjamin), who became more of a secret friend who she talked to into her teens, and his throwing the doll off the bridge was a way of telling her to grow up and put away childish things. Her realization of her boyfriend's homosexuality was an allegory of her growing up and losing her childish naivete that such things even existed. That's how I saw the film, anyway. :)
An engagement ring fits. But when you consider the times, especially in the south a miscarried/aborted fetus makes sense too. Back then unmarried women in the south didn't get pregnant. Whatever it was the preacher saw it happen. The 1976 movie sucked.
they made the movie in 76 and i remember watching it with my older brother when we were kids.weird way to remember but it brings back good memories of singing this song with my mom and brother as we drove in her car.Strange song about a strange boy.........But she sure makes it sound pretty.
Live vocals...beautiful. Bobbie was the finest. I wish the BBC would release more and more of this stuff from the time. Still, I guess that's why the good lord invented YouTube...A
They used to say that a "monster hit" was one that people who didn't normally buy records would go out and buy. this was the mother of all monster hits. It was a monster hit times ten, a phenomenon. Like writing "Gone With the Wind." It was a one-shot but what a one-shot!!! the first southern gothic record. the fact that she and william faulkner came from the same state is probably not coincidence.
@zyxquark No denying this was a HUGE hit but, in terms of "Monster Hits" of the era, I wouldn't go as far as saying it was the "mother of monster hits." When I think of a song that falls under that category, I think of Lynn Anderson's "Rose Garden." In addition to reaching the top of the country, pop and A.C. charts, it went #1 in 16 countries around the world and remained the biggest selling record by a female country artist for 27 years. As big as OTBJ was, "Rose Garden" was bigger.
The ring makes sense, yes, but I was under the impression that she never revealed what they dropped off the bridge. That's what makes the song so intriguing!
HOW ODE WAS BILLY JOE WHEN HE JUMPED OFF THE TALLAHATCHIE BRIDGE? DOES ANYBODY KNOW? WHY DID THEY THROW THEIR ILEGITIMATE BABY OFF SAID BRIDGE? DID SHE REALLY THINK THROWING FLOWERS INTO THE MUDDY WATERS WOULD BRING HE OR SHE BACK? I DON'T THINK SO!
The mystique of this song is NO ONE, knows what it is about, it is a poem. Read into it anything You want and make it your own BUT! Please let everyone else do the same
jukeboxdano 2 days ago in playlist Favorite videos
This is really what does happen in society..unconscious cruelty!
Bobbie Gentry was ahead of her time while writing this song, probably didn't know this herself
A winner as well as being effin' beautiful!!
MultiCgp 6 days ago
How much would she charge to fuck that wig?
lechbarh1 1 week ago
Most profs are published. Its a requirement. Being published and being a known sucessful author are way two different things.anyone can get "published" especially these days. Apparently you are a failed author to have so much rage over 2 people discussing a song. Calm down. Its youtube. You're the only one "pontificating".
seymourbbest 1 month ago
I love this song ♥
SceneQueen347 2 months ago
Cine---well if you want to read a book like a college lit prof looking for allegories,symbolic meanings,etc be my guest. I prefer to listen to the story in my head as I read. Despite college profs insistence, I doubt too many good authors write in allegories and symbols. We add those in ourselves.I Never had a college lit prof that wasn't a failed writer that thought they knew more about a work than the author themselves.
seymourbbest 2 months ago
Really? What a bitch you are. At my college all my lit. profs were published and highly successful. Cinemavirtualis has the right to interpret it any way Cine wants. Plus the indicator that it was interpreted by the film in that fashion. Did you miss that? Allegory and symbol are everywhere in "good authors" works, you just haven't read any of them. Save your pontificating and rotten grand-standing for someone who deserves it.
Kudos to the brilliant Bobbie Gentry for this epic piece of work.
lekkki1 1 month ago
Great songwriter. Way ahead of her country roots.
madisonhack 2 months ago
According to the book it was a baby doll thrown off the bridge. It was a doll she and billy used to play house with. After he realized he was gay they knew their dreams of a family wouldn't happen so they threw the doll over.
seymourbbest 2 months ago
@seymourbbest - She played with the doll (named Benjamin), who became more of a secret friend who she talked to into her teens, and his throwing the doll off the bridge was a way of telling her to grow up and put away childish things. Her realization of her boyfriend's homosexuality was an allegory of her growing up and losing her childish naivete that such things even existed. That's how I saw the film, anyway. :)
cinemavirtualis 2 months ago
@seymourbbest ah, now the doll makes sense.
I didn't know there was a book
ReviewCam 2 months ago
An engagement ring fits. But when you consider the times, especially in the south a miscarried/aborted fetus makes sense too. Back then unmarried women in the south didn't get pregnant. Whatever it was the preacher saw it happen. The 1976 movie sucked.
MrMojoman57 3 months ago
nope,sorry came out in '67
LutherRayable 3 months ago
This is a Great performance
natmingmcf1 3 months ago
@natmingmcf1 ..........+ smokin' hot.......!!!
nice1kid 3 months ago
when did this song come out
MRlovestospooge1 3 months ago
@MRlovestospooge1 Im pretty sure it came out in like '68?
they made the movie in 76 and i remember watching it with my older brother when we were kids.weird way to remember but it brings back good memories of singing this song with my mom and brother as we drove in her car.Strange song about a strange boy.........But she sure makes it sound pretty.
LutherRayable 3 months ago
Reminds me of my trip to fabulous Dumpwater, FL, where I got to meet the man who met Andy Griffith!!!
ArizonaKnightWolf 4 months ago
When I was 12,I thought she was the most beautiful woman alive.....wow what memories this brings up.
brendahall6 4 months ago
Actually, it was always speculated that it was a baby, not a ring. Though what it was, was never revealed.
TheSpygrrl 4 months ago
Country to her soul. Nothing like this tripe they call country nowadays.
MrTenitis 5 months ago 2
Her song,her voice, and her country persona are spectacular
micmoable 5 months ago
Live vocals...beautiful. Bobbie was the finest. I wish the BBC would release more and more of this stuff from the time. Still, I guess that's why the good lord invented YouTube...A
cottageorgan 5 months ago
They used to say that a "monster hit" was one that people who didn't normally buy records would go out and buy. this was the mother of all monster hits. It was a monster hit times ten, a phenomenon. Like writing "Gone With the Wind." It was a one-shot but what a one-shot!!! the first southern gothic record. the fact that she and william faulkner came from the same state is probably not coincidence.
zyxquark 5 months ago
@zyxquark No denying this was a HUGE hit but, in terms of "Monster Hits" of the era, I wouldn't go as far as saying it was the "mother of monster hits." When I think of a song that falls under that category, I think of Lynn Anderson's "Rose Garden." In addition to reaching the top of the country, pop and A.C. charts, it went #1 in 16 countries around the world and remained the biggest selling record by a female country artist for 27 years. As big as OTBJ was, "Rose Garden" was bigger.
JJayFin 4 months ago
@JJayFin Ok, but they made a MOVIE out of this. I think this gives it a cult status rose garden doesn't have.
zyxquark 4 months ago
"Oh, by the way..."
Rebecca9311 6 months ago
Wow !.. Thanks
squezzmylemon 6 months ago
Listen to Bob Dylan's parody 'Clothesline Saga (Answer to Ode)' from the Basement Tapes!
Balzo93 6 months ago
Damn...she kills it! Very soulful. Brings back lots of good memories.
mrdramirez09 6 months ago
At 1:08 her eyes look so beautiful, love the glossy look of her eyeliner.
What beauty, what talent!
Bibagirl63 7 months ago
I love it at 1:38 - She puts her head back when she sings the line, she looks so beautiful there.
Bibagirl63 7 months ago
The ring makes sense, yes, but I was under the impression that she never revealed what they dropped off the bridge. That's what makes the song so intriguing!
Aphelionite 7 months ago in playlist Music 2
lovely version
Lirleni 8 months ago
engagement rings makes a lot more sense.
lrchuckg 9 months ago
they didn't throw a baby a bridge you fool - it was their engagement ring! doofus. she didn't get pregnant.
thetiktokman 9 months ago
Hello!
I think there is an instrumental version by KING CURTIS; isn't nit?
bouroumchouroum 9 months ago
HOW ODE WAS BILLY JOE WHEN HE JUMPED OFF THE TALLAHATCHIE BRIDGE? DOES ANYBODY KNOW? WHY DID THEY THROW THEIR ILEGITIMATE BABY OFF SAID BRIDGE? DID SHE REALLY THINK THROWING FLOWERS INTO THE MUDDY WATERS WOULD BRING HE OR SHE BACK? I DON'T THINK SO!
HEARTHEANGELSVOICES 9 months ago
Good songs never date!
mancmuso1 1 year ago
beautiful and haunting.....thank you for having this on, please dont remove it thx
marcellop1272 1 year ago