Ozquonk is right. Having lived through the original songs release, it was wildly popular, with everyone wanting to know what they threw off the bridge. Capitalizing on this popularity, the artist (Bobby Gentry) said in several interviews that she hadn't thought that part out yet. End of story. The original HAD no specific meaning. BUT, people wanted more, and there was money to be made, so the TV movie was made with then "modern" themes of forbidden love and young teen boy confused sexuality resulting in a homosexual tryst he immediately felt so shamed about, that it (in the TV movie version) ultimately led to his arguing with his girlfriend on the bridge (of his being "I am so unworthy" sort) that in anger, despair, confusion, and self-loathing, he grabs her doll and throws it off the bridge (This plot device simply to give the answer everyone wanted to regarding what was thrown off the bridge). Later, he kills himself. REALLY END OF STORY. However, the cool thing about trying to figure out song, poem, novel meanings, etc. is how we can interpret the artists vision. I especially think that the pregnancy, stillbirth, abortion, etc. visions are as good an interpretation of what it could be about, whether by artist design or not, as any other.
Ozquonk is right. Having lived through the original songs release, it was wildly popular, with everyone wanting to know what they threw off the bridge. Capitalizing on this popularity, the artist (Bobby Gentry) said in several interviews that she hadn't thought that part out yet. End of story. The original HAD no specific meaning. BUT, people wanted more, and there was money to be made, so the TV movie was made with then "modern" themes of forbidden love and young teen boy confused sexuality resulting in a homosexual tryst he immediately felt so shamed about, that it (in the TV movie version) ultimately led to his arguing with his girlfriend on the bridge (of his being "I am so unworthy" sort) that in anger, despair, confusion, and self-loathing, he grabs her doll and throws it off the bridge (This plot device simply to give the answer everyone wanted to regarding what was thrown off the bridge). Later, he kills himself. REALLY END OF STORY. However, the cool thing about trying to figure out song, poem, novel meanings, etc. is how we can interpret the artists vision. I especially think that the pregnancy, stillbirth, abortion, etc. visions are as good an interpretation of what it could be about, whether by artist design or not, as any other.