Bobbie Gentry referred to a young boy-friend who committed suicide, but the reason was not given. A later movie referred to Billie committing suicide after a drunken homosexual experience.
Actually, here in Continental Europe, we heard first the version by Joe Dassin, Marie-Jeanne, in this case a teen girl, who committed suicide on June 4th; hence Billie Joe McAllister is transformed into Marie-Jeanne Guillaume, the Tallahatchie river is opposed to the Garonne river, Choctaw Ridge becomes Bourg-les-Essonnes ...
The story is a classic tragedy about a frequent taboo theme in the 60ies, i.e. a too naive teen girl and illegal abortion in rural, sexist and very religious surroundings - which drove her into suicide, because her boy-friend was ashamed of their relationship, and about the sister of the priest who wanted to remind the young man of his responsibilities.
Ode to Billie Joe by Bobby Gentry ?
Correct!
Excellent my friend !
I was thinking of the song "Ode to Billie Joe".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ode_to_Billie_Joe
Bobbie Gentry referred to a young boy-friend who committed suicide, but the reason was not given. A later movie referred to Billie committing suicide after a drunken homosexual experience.
Actually, here in Continental Europe, we heard first the version by Joe Dassin, Marie-Jeanne, in this case a teen girl, who committed suicide on June 4th; hence Billie Joe McAllister is transformed into Marie-Jeanne Guillaume, the Tallahatchie river is opposed to the Garonne river, Choctaw Ridge becomes Bourg-les-Essonnes ...
The story is a classic tragedy about a frequent taboo theme in the 60ies, i.e. a too naive teen girl and illegal abortion in rural, sexist and very religious surroundings - which drove her into suicide, because her boy-friend was ashamed of their relationship, and about the sister of the priest who wanted to remind the young man of his responsibilities.
Bobbie Gentry:
Joe Dassin:
Bobbie Gentry created a legendary song that is still popular today.
@MidnightCowboy
Yes, and she wrote the song herself, which was rare for female singers in these times.
In Europe, the version by Joe Dassin came out 1 day later, and it was a success.
A Swedish version (same as Bobbie Gentry's story, only set in rural Swedish surroundings) was also recorded in 1967:
This is just to say that, sometimes, news and stories from the other side of the "Great Pond" came over the indirect way.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ode_to_Billie_Joe