The 3rd of June commemorates a famous song about someone throwing himself off a bridge. What song is it?

Question

Answer 1

Ode to Billie Joe  by Bobby Gentry ?

Comments

Correct! 

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Excellent my friend ! 

Answer 2

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:

Comments

Bobbie Gentry created a legendary song that is still popular today.

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@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.

Answer 3

I forgot to add the info:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ode_to_Billie_Joe