It was 49 years ago today
On June 3, 1966, Billy Joe McAllister jumped off of Tallahatchie Bridge.
How do I know the year? Bobbie Gentry (pictured above - that was a hot Southern look back then) opens the song with, "It was the 3rd of June, another sleepy, dusty, Delta day" and tells us that Billy Joe went up to Choctaw Ridge and took the leap into the muddy water that day. Bobbie finds out at suppertime when her Momma tells everyone. Poppa says that Billy Joe never had a lick o'sense and pass the biscuits please, but Momma says it's a shame 'bout Billy Joe anyway.
Near the end of the song Bobbie tells us that a year has come and gone since we heard the news 'bout Billy Joe-oh-woah.
The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1967, so the fateful date for BJM would have been 6/3/66.
Maybe I'll post this again next year when it's the 50th.
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