Why I love art.

The fact that even though there is a narrative, a piece can be intrepreted different ways.

For example:

'A final mystery for your consideration. Why isn't Billie Joe really Billy Joe? Does the song suggest that the title character is really a girl? Listening to the song again in this context, it takes on a completely different meaning.

A lesser known opinion is that the tale is actually one of young lesbian love. However, hidden in the lyrics, Billie Joe is quietly referred to as "him" ("Brother said he recollected when he and Tom and Billie Joe. Put a frog down my back at the Carroll County picture show. And wasn't I talkin' to him after church last Sunday night?")

So, Billie Joe is clearly a young man. Right? Not if you interpret the line as Brother actually saying "And wasn't I talkin' to TOM after church last Sunday night?"

Full analysis here.