Assume you. are referring to the Bobby Gentry version. Just listened. A very enjoyable listen.
My equivalent discovery (from same era) is Nina Simone. Young Gifted and Black. The vocal delivery, melody and story blew me away.
Oh weird. I was literally just looking at a portrait I had drawn of Nina Simone right before I came to this thread. I love her.
There's a movie about the One to Billy Joe from probably the '80s, which I always think about when I hear the song. It answers all the questions. 😬
The person I just recently discovered but should've known about long ago was Lee Hazelwood. Right up my street. Don't know how I missed him. I guess he was a bit before my time, but he's pretty timeless.