Why did Billy Joe Mcallister jump off the Tallahatchee bridge?

[Moonpie]

Was it because his girlfriend was a Karen?

 

[Younggun]

I thought it was because his girlfriend got pregnant but miscarried or something and they threw the baby off the bridge, but then he couldn’t live with it and jumped.


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[1911'S 4 Me]

She had a child out of wedlock, they had already thrown the baby in the river. His conscience
got to him so he committed suicide.

 

[craigntx]

He laid with man!
Barf

 

[easy rider]

Now you made me go and look, so I guess I'll go with what Bobbie Gentry said herself in 1967:

"It's entirely a matter of interpretation as from each individual's viewpoint. But I've hoped to get across the basic indifference, the casualness, of people in moments of tragedy. Something terrible has happened, but it's 'pass the black-eyed peas', or 'y'all remember to wipe your feet.'"

 

[Moonpie]

I thought it was because his girlfriend got pregnant but miscarried or something and they threw the baby off the bridge, but then he couldn’t live with it and jumped.


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But it doesn't say that in the song.

 

[Moonpie]

He laid with man!
Barf

 

[busykngt]

Because he never had a lick of sense.

 

[Sasquatch]

But it doesn't say that in the song.

True, but they do mention that the preacher saw two people that looked like the singer and Billy Joe throwing something from the Tallahatchee Bridge. Given the rest of the song, one could easily assume they were throwing a baby - be it alive, stillborn, or miscarried. Or it could be they were throwing the body of someone else.

Given that Billy Joe was so wracked with guilt that he ended his own life by jumping off the bridge, we are lead to infer it was related to the singer, and thus probably a baby they made together. Of course you have to then wonder - how did she hide the pregnancy if that was the case? Maybe she's a corn fed country girl, or maybe she miscarried or self aborted early on? Maybe everyone knew she was pregnant, and thus the indifference by the rest because of the cruel nature of small towns in those times?

 

[1911'S 4 Me]

Because he never did lick the scent.

 

[bbbass]

Because it was the third of June. Had it been January, the river would have been frozen over and he would not have jumped.

 

[Moonpie]

Because he never did lick the scent.

He couldn’t smell?

 

[bbbass]

He couldn’t smell?

Early covid case.

 

[Sasquatch]

Early covid case.

COVID-69?

 

[easy rider]

True, but they do mention that the preacher saw two people that looked like the singer and Billy Joe throwing something from the Tallahatchee Bridge. Given the rest of the song, one could easily assume they were throwing a baby - be it alive, stillborn, or miscarried. Or it could be they were throwing the body of someone else.

Given that Billy Joe was so wracked with guilt that he ended his own life by jumping off the bridge, we are lead to infer it was related to the singer, and thus probably a baby they made together. Of course you have to then wonder - how did she hide the pregnancy if that was the case? Maybe she's a corn fed country girl, or maybe she miscarried or self aborted early on? Maybe everyone knew she was pregnant, and thus the indifference by the rest because of the cruel nature of small towns in those times?

Having read about the song and Bobbie Gentry, I don't believe she had any related experience. Although she was born in that area, she moved with her mom to Palm Springs at 13.

 

[Sasquatch]

Having read about the song and Bobbie Gentry, I don't believe she had any related experience. Although she was born in that area, she moved with her mom to Palm Springs at 13.

I know - but when I say "singer" I'm referring to her character in the song, since its sung from her point of view.

 

[easy rider]

I know - but when I say "singer" I'm referring to her character in the song, since its sung from her point of view.

Of course 13 in Mississippi in the mid fifties may have been reason for moving to Palm Springs.

 

[V-Tach]

The shit we wonder about..............

 

[Lonesome Dove]

Doesn’t matter Bobbie Gentry
was as Hot as Hot gets.

 

[Axxe55]

Why Billie Joe committed suicide in the song is open for speculation.

In the movie, it is explored and speculated because Billie Joe was maybe gay.

Ode to Billy Joe (film) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org