Set to a backing of spare acoustic guitar chords and atmospheric strings, gentry s sensual, southernfried voice relates the story of two mississippi teenage lovers who share a dark secret that eventually leads to the boys suicide. At last, were given the answers to the questions raised by the haunting 1967 bobbie gentry song of the same title. I admit being intrigued by the mysterious classic, ode to billie joe, from an early age. Its worth digging a bit to find her material canada drug. Tara murtha examines that song and the rest of bobbi gentry s career in ode to billie joe, the latest release in the 33 series of books. Scopri pubblicazioni, recensioni, crediti, brani, e molto altro su bobbie gentry ode to billie joe in discogs. Bobbie gentry born july 27, 1944 is an american singersongwriter. The secret life of bobbie gentry, pioneering artist behind ode to billie joe how the singersongwriter who knocked the beatles out of the number one spot 50.
Bobbie gentry licensed to youtube by wmg, umg on behalf of emi. Provided to youtube by universal music group ode to billie joe bobbie gentry the best of bobbie gentry. Bobbie gentry ode to billie joe lyrics songmeanings. It includes ode to billie joe one of her best known songs but my favorites are the fun titles lazy willy, bugs and nicky hoekey. Gentry s independence from the machine was also reflected in her lyrical themes, particularly in morality tales such as the girl from cincinatti and ode to billy joe its hard to imagine anyone recording, let alone having a worldwide hit with the latter, a song about abortion and suicide, in nashville nowadays. Local movie theaters placed an ad in the june 4, 1976 issue of.
She shot to international fame in the summer of 1967 with the quirky and intriguing ode to billie joe, written by gentry and sung in her warm, captivating style. A movie with the title spelled ode to billy joe was released in 1976. The american journalist tara murtha, in her recently published book ode to billie joe bloomsbury, attempts to solve these mysteries. The best of bobbie gentry the capitol years 2007 fancy 1969 touch em with love 1969 50 million songs. Bobbie gentry ode to billie joe lyrics metrolyrics. Provided to youtube by universal music group ode to billie joe bobbie gentry ode to billie joe. It was released on august 21, 1967, by capitol records. Trying to unearth the story behind the reclusive bobbie gentrys ode. The single, released on july 10, 1967, was a numberone hit in the us within three weeks of release and a big international seller. In 2008, australian label raven records released the album on cd, paired with 1969s touch em with love. Indeed the album ode to billie joe knocked sgt pepper of the top spot. Here i assume that the song lyrics were transcribed from the original source and reflect the intended spelling also, i believe it is clear that the girl telling the story had. Almost overnight the girl from chickasaw county, was a superstar, prompting a one writer to proclaim, bobbie gentry is the most exciting thing to happen to popular music since the beatles.
Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers. 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. Buy bobbie gentrys ode to billie joe 33 by tara murtha isbn. In 2007, the album was made available for digital download. Bobbie gentry sings ode to billie joe live on the andy williams show 1971 duration. Which may explain the enduring power of her ode to billie joe. Is the 1967 hit song ode to billie joe based on a true story. She was born roberta lee streeter to portuguese parents in chickasaw county, mississippi. 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 yall remember to wipe your feet and then she said i got some news this mornin from choctaw ridge.
Mississippi mystery the 50yearold enigma of bobbie. Bobbie gentry discusses the reality behind the song and what was thrown off the bridge. Bobbie gentry performs ode to billie joe live on the ed sullivan show 1968. My father bough this album ode to billy joe old to billy joe back in 1967 and this album is one that i was always looking for which i just purchased from amazon. Verse d7 twas the third of june another sleepy dusty delta day d7 i was out choppin cotton and my brother was balin hay g7 and at dinner time we stopped and walked back to the house to ea. Some of the material has been transfered to the state library. Bobbie gentry ode to billie joe lyrics genius lyrics. Her book is likely to be a hit with casual listeners and popculture obsessives alike. It is a wonderfully compelling book and the best ive read in the series since television. Bobbie gentrys ode to billie joe by tara murtha goodreads. Ode to billie joe by bobbie gentry on amazon music. The mystery created by bobbie gentry in her debut single ode to billie joe cast a spell over the entire country. A simple acoustic guitar played against a background of strings creates the perfect setting for bobbie gentry s almostraspy voice reminiscing about her.
Bobbie gentry ode to billie joe pubblicazioni discogs. The mystery created by bobbie gentry in her debut single ode to billie joe cast a. The hollies long cool woman in a black dress 1972 extended meow. Eighteen yearold billy joe mcallister is in love with bobbie lee, but her father refuses to allow her to receive gentlemen callers before shes sixteen.
Ode to billie joe singers secret life rolling stone. Song meaningi too, like at least one other commenter here, think the spelling of billie joe is a hint to the meaning of this song. Ode to billie joe bobbie gentry song info allmusic. Is bobbie gentrys ode to billie joe based on a true story. Bobbie gentry ode to billie joe 1967, vinyl discogs.
The secret life of bobbie gentry, pioneering artist behind ode to billie joe how the singersongwriter who knocked the beatles out of the number one spot 50 years ago quietly revolutionized. 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, yall remember to wipe your feet. The mystery created by bobbie gentry cast a spell over the entire country. In the midst of an enormous project in this old farmhouse, i sprayed vinegar water on ancient wallpaper that was holding on for dear life. Bobbie gentrys ode to billie joe 33 tara murtha on. Bobbie gentrys southern gothic tale of doomed romance, ode to billie joe. Mississippi mystery the 50yearold enigma of bobbie gentry s ode to billie joe. Daniel from toledo, oh bobbie gentry wrote both ode to billie joe and fancy as short stories before setting them to music. So i was very excited when the the song was fleshed out into a tv movie of the week in 1976. Most folks will say the know the ode to billy joe song by bobbie gentry, a number 1 hit in 1967.
Ode to billie joe is a critically acclaimed volume in bloomsburys 33 series by tara murtha. It received several grammy nominations, and quickly rose to the top of the charts. Its a good song that tells an intriguing story, yes but bobbie gentry s ode to billie joe is also missing a key detail. Bobbie gentry lyrics ode to billie joe 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, yall remember to wipe your feet. Ode to billie joe is a song written and recorded by bobbie gentry, a singer songwriter from chickasaw county, mississippi. Ode to billie joe as recorded by bobbie gentry from the 1967 album ode to billie joe words and music by bobbie gentry transcribed by slowhand gtr i e a d g b e bobbie gentry acoustic guitar nylon intro q120 d9 d7 d9 d7 d9 d7 d9 d7 44 gtr i ac. I used to steal my fathers copy of the record when i was a kid. Ode to billy joe is a 1976 american drama film with a screenplay by herman raucher, inspired by the 1967 hit song by bobbie gentry, titled ode to billie joe the film was directed and produced by max baer jr. The film was based on this song, with a fictionalized gentry named bobbie lee hartley. Ode to billie joe is the debut studio album by american singersongwriter bobbie gentry. Ode to billie joe d7 am it was the third of june, another sleepy, d7 dusty, delta day d7 i was out chopping cotton, and my am d7 brother was bailing hay, g7 and at dinner time we stopped and. Song information for ode to billie joe bobbie gentry on allmusic allmusic. I love bobbie gentry s gritty, raw country voice on this disc. Ode to billie joe is a song written and recorded by bobbie gentry, a singersongwriter from chickasaw county, mississippi.