Ode To Billy Joe

by Bobbie Gentry
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Lyrics

It was the (F7)third of June, an oth er (Cm7)sleep y, dust y del ta day,

I was (F7)out chop pin’ cot ton and my (Cm7)broth er was bail in’ hay:

And at (Bb7)din ner time we stopped and walked back to the house

to eat,

And Ma ma (F7)hol lered at the back door, “Y’all re (Cm7)mem ber to wipe your feet”.

Then she (Bb7)said, “I got some news this morn in’ from Choc taw Ridge,

To day (F7)Bil ly Joe Mc Al lis ter jumped (Eb7)off the Tal la hat chee Bridge.“

(F7)third of June, an oth er (Cm7)sleep y, dust y del ta day,

I was (F7)out chop pin’ cot ton and my (Cm7)broth er was bail in’ hay:

And at (Bb7)din ner time we stopped and walked back to the house to eat,

And Ma ma (F7)hol lered at the back door, “Y’all re (Cm7)mem ber to wipe your feet”.

Then she (Bb7)said, “I got some news this morn in’ from Choc taw Ridge,

To day (F7)Bil ly Joe Mc Al lis ter jumped (Eb7)off the Tal la hat chee Bridge.“

Ode To Billy Joe — Easy Piano Notes for Beginners

3 people have learned this song

Learn "Ode To Billy Joe" on piano with easy notes — perfect for absolute beginners. Large color-coded note names show exactly which keys to press. No music reading required. Key of Bb, 100 BPM.

Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.

About “Ode To Billy Joe

Can I play "Ode To Billy Joe" without reading sheet music?
Yes — Easy Notes mode prints the letter name (C, D, E…) directly on each note in big color-coded labels, so you can match colors to your keyboard without any traditional notation. The whole arrangement of "Ode To Billy Joe" is playable in minutes, even for first-time players.
What key is "Ode To Billy Joe" by Bobbie Gentry played in?
Ode To Billy Joe is arranged in the key of Bb on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Ode To Billy Joe"?
The arrangement plays at 100 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Ode To Billy Joe" easy to play on piano?
Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
Can I download sheet music for "Ode To Billy Joe"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Ode To Billy Joe"?
"Ode To Billy Joe" was originally performed by Bobbie Gentry. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "Ode To Billy Joe"?
This arrangement uses 4 chords: Bb7, Cm7, Eb7, F7. Only a handful of chords — beginner-friendly.
Can a complete beginner play "Ode To Billy Joe"?
Absolutely! The Beginner mode shows large color-coded notes with letter names (C, D, E...). Just match the colors to your keyboard — no music reading needed. "Ode To Billy Joe" is perfect for first-time players.
Do I need to read music to play "Ode To Billy Joe"?
No! Our Beginner mode replaces traditional notation with color-coded letter names. Each note shows exactly which key to press. You can start playing "Ode To Billy Joe" in minutes, even if you've never touched a piano before.

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