What Happened to Billy Joe?
By Jo Ann
@akalinus (40440)
United States
June 4, 2016 8:03pm CST
June 3 was the anniversary of Billy Joe McAllister's untimely death when he plunged off the Tallahassee Bridge. What happened to Billy Joe?
This is the saddest song I have ever heard. The family is sitting around the table talking about food and not realizing that the daughter is Billy Joe's boyfriend. Someone saw her and Billy throw something off the bridge.
A big mystery is what did they throw. Some think it is a ring, flowers, a draft card or even an unfortunate baby and maybe something else.
Another question is whether he jumped or was pushed? Did they find his body? Is he really dead?
It all happened in 1967. I invite all sleuths professional and amateur to chime in on the Ode to Billy Joe and its mysteries.
Here is the link to the story.
The mystery created by Bobbie Gentry cast a spell over the entire country, and 45 years later people are still discussing what Billie Joe McAllister and his
6 people like this
3 responses
@DWDavis (25812)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
5 Jun 16
As I understand it, Billy Joe McAllister was not a real person, and the song was not about an actual event. The listener is challenged to decide what was being thrown off. In a movie made based on the song, Billy Joe killed himself because of shame over a homosexual encounter he had. But that was pure Hollywood.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (57669)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Jun 16
Wow, I've heard that song so many times, I had no idea it was based off a real-life event. Unfourtnially I don't really have an opinion, but it may always remain an unsolved mystery.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (57669)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Jun 16
@akalinus Hard to say really. If you listen carefully to the lyerics to a song you can usually tell. But, I never paid much attention mostly because of how it was written. Lively and upeat, not somber like you'd expect tragity to be.
1 person likes this
