by Bobbie Gentry, who was born and raised in Chickasaw County, Mississippi, about 2 and a half hours south of Memphis. I remember when this song came out we spent many an interesting conversation talking about what they threw off the Tallahatchie Bridge. The bridge pictured in articles about the song printed at the time collapsed in 1972. It has been replaced, but it's not even the only bridge crossing that river in that area, so I guess you can pick the bridge you think best looks the part.
Here's Gentry on the old bridge:
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| photo from Wikipedia |
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I played the song and I think I'd heard it before, but not sure. I was impressed because she used real places in her song. I wonder if it was her voice or the mystery surrounding the song that helped it rise to the top of the charts.
ReplyDeleteWe're getting a kick out of you being unfamiliar with it. Among my age group it's a big part of our youth, and it was an international hit. It's on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time; it was nominated for 8 Grammy Awards and won 4. After it was released folks started going down there to jump off the bridge, which wasn't high enough over the river to be hazardous but really gave folks a connection to the story. Even now, people go down there looking for that bridge. It's a shame the original is gone. I guess it's an age-related difference and that the song just hasn't had lasting power through the next generation.
DeleteI remember this song so well! Came out my senior year in high school (67-68) and we had discussions, too, about what they threw off the bridge. I loved that it was written like a short story--mystery. And written well, I might add. I haven't heard it for so long--thanks for the refresher! :)
ReplyDeleteThe song filled up my Facebook feed yesterday, with people posting videos and asking whatever happened to Bobbie Gentry. Fun memories :)
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