Happy Anniversary Billy Joe

Subject: Billy Joe's Anniversary
From: GUEST,Paddy(1)
Date: 03 Jun 02 - 09:33 PM

It's the 3rd of June - Remembering Billy Joe's anniversary

Subject: RE: Happy Anniversary Billy Joe
From: catspaw49
Date: 03 Jun 02 - 09:48 PM

The story of Billie Joe is based in truth but stylized to some degree. It is an old story, dating back to the the late 40's when the only daughter of John Hatch, a Mississippi Klansman of some note, was in love with the first black attorney in the state. Jubilee Simmons was the grandson of slaves and had gone to law school at the University of Chicago and returned to his family's home state, taking up residence in Carroll county in 1948.

John Hatch's daughter was known to be a bit wild and young Kelli had already incurred her father's wrath on numerous occasions. Kelli was living with two other 22 year old women in the small town of Campton, Mississippi when she met and began dating Simmons. Her father learned of it a few weeks later and came into town drunk with some Klan buddies to hunt down and kill Simmons. Simmons law offices were across from the county courthouse and through an open window he could hear the drunken invectives hurled his way from across the square. He slipped out a back door of the courthouse and went to Kelli's house to take her away and save them both from the murderous rancor of her father and his "brethren."

Not finding Jubilee in his office the Klansmen split up to search for him and John Hatch went to his daughter's, presumably to beat her or possibly (and probably) worse. He arrived before the pair had left and headed in the back porch door adjoining the kitchen. Seeing him coming, Simmons grabbed a kitchen knife and jumped atop the counter and then onto the top of the refrigerator that stood by the door. As John Hatch passed, he didn't notice Simmons who then jumped him safely from behind and in the ensuing struggle, Hatch was stabbed with the knife. The lovers bagged his body and threw it off the bridge on their way out of town. They were on their way to Chicago when they were arrested in Clarksville, Tennessee and returned for trial in Mississippi. Jubilee represented both and thanks to the testimony of one of the roommates and Mrs. Hatch, the wife of the deceased and Kelli's mother, who had suffered abuse for years at the hands of her husband, both were acquitted and moved to Chicago where he established a moderately successful practice on the south side.

The original song told the story as it was, but owing to legal considerations, the Gentry version was done instead. The original was titled, "The Day that Jubilee the Barrister Jumped Off of Kelli Hatch's Fridge."










Sorry..............Told it 5 times before but I figure I can still hook someone.......

Spaw

Subject: RE: Happy Anniversary Billy Joe
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 03 Jun 02 - 10:01 PM

And what of Bobbie Gentry, showing my ignorance here but is she alive, dead, still singing or what?

Sad "b" that I am, I could fall in love with her voice.

Don't know much of her stuff but as a teenager I used to love "At first mom and pappa called a little girl a lady (Louisana Man) which we had on a C/W LP.

Jon

Subject: RE: Happy Anniversary Billy Joe
From: khandu
Date: 03 Jun 02 - 10:13 PM

Spaw, before I opened the thread, I says to myself, I says "Well, well well, we gonna read about Jubilee, the Barrister, tonight". And sure nuff, here it is!

That ain't a good sign, ole buddyroo! You gittin' perdictable. Repeatin' yourself, Redundant. Same old same old. Been down this road before. Relickin' your calf Passin your gas twice!

Could be you need a vacation. Come on down to Missississippi and we'll treat you like royalty while you recouperate!

khandu

Subject: RE: Happy Anniversary Billy Joe
From: catspaw49
Date: 03 Jun 02 - 10:16 PM

Royalty? What the hell does that mean?.........I get the purple sheet and pillowcase and ride shotgun in the pickup after lighting the cross or what?

Spaw

Subject: RE: Happy Anniversary Billy Joe
From: khandu
Date: 03 Jun 02 - 10:25 PM

Catching on, ole Buddyroo! Your puhrty smart for an Ohio boy!

khandu

Subject: RE: Happy Anniversary Billy Joe
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 03 Jun 02 - 10:48 PM

'Spaw,

I bit.

Steve

Subject: RE: Happy Anniversary Billy Joe
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Jun 02 - 01:28 AM

Pat, you a**hole!

(I did too.)

It was so well written!

~S~

Subject: RE: Happy Anniversary Billy Joe
From: catspaw49
Date: 04 Jun 02 - 12:27 PM

Glad to know I hooked two more.....Now a quick cleaning and throw 'em into some butter in a hot iron skillet over an open fire.......MMMM-MMMMM Good!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Happy Anniversary Billy Joe
From: Gareth
Date: 04 Jun 02 - 04:33 PM

On the other hand Spaw

Click 'Ere
How are cletus and them boys ?

Gareth