The Riddle of Billie Joe

After many years of speculation the riddle of Billie Joe McAllister's role in the events on the Tallahatchie bridge is finally solved.

ooo

“It was only a rumour
-but nothing concrete-
that on Choctaw Ridge
Billie Joe would meet
a secret lover, the wife
of the next door farmer,
who had fallen for Joe,
a seductive charmer.”

I was in the drug store
run by a crusty old man
who started telling me
how their affair began.
He offered me a cold beer
that he got from a fridge
and said the couple met
on the Tallahatchie bridge.

“She was very passionate,
described as a 'hot dish';
her husband, in contrast,
was an utter 'cold fish'.
As she first caught sight
of the body of Billie Joe,
she thought of deep waters
in which to dip her toe.”

From the beer in his hand
he took an appreciative sip
then, after a pause, told me:
“Son, let me give you a tip,
don't meddle with a woman
who is an unfaithful wife;
it creates many problems,
disharmony and strife.”

“The farmer got suspicious,
to find proof turned sleuth;
followed his wife everywhere;
eventually learned the truth.
Finding the lovers canoodling,
he began to rant and rave.
Threatened to kill Billie Joe
and wrestled with the knave.

But the cuckolded husband
had an unexpected shock,
his wife hit him on the head
with an enormous rock. 
Billie Joe was dumbstruck
to see the girl was violent
and wished he had no truck
with someone so malevolent.

The lovers had no alternative
to drop the body in the river,
a deed they both performed
with a tremulous quiver.
Billie couldn't bear the guilt,
he hoped committing suicide
would give him the chance
to find peace on the other side.”

© Luigi Pagano 2025