Black Betty

Black Betty a song by Ram Jam on Foxsoundi — Free Music, Smart Streaming for Everyone

Black Betty by Ram Jam

About Black Betty

"Black Betty" (Roud 11668) is a 20th century African-American work song often credited to Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter as the author, though the earliest recordings are not by him. Some sources claim it is one of Lead Belly's many adaptations of earlier folk material; in this case an 18th century marching cadence about a flint-lock rifle. In 1977, the rock band Ram Jam — whose members included Bill Bartlett, formerly of Starstruck and The Lemon Pipers — rerecorded the song with producers Jerry Kasenetz and Jeff Katz under Epic Records. .

Black Betty Lyrics

[00:34.52] Whoa, Black Betty (Bam-ba-lam)
[00:36.57] Whoa, Black Betty (Bam-ba-lam)
[00:38.68] Black Betty had a child (Bam-ba-lam)
[00:40.46] The damn thing gone wild (Bam-ba-lam)
[00:42.66] She said, "I'm worryin' outta mind" (Bam-ba-lam)
[00:44.73] The damn thing gone blind (Bam-ba-lam)
[00:46.74] I said oh, Black Betty (Bam-ba-lam)
[00:48.80] Whoa, Black Betty (Bam-ba-lam)
[00:52.49]
[01:15.28] Whoa, Black Betty (Bam-ba-lam)
[01:17.35] Whoa, Black Betty (Bam-ba-lam)
[01:19.49] She really gets me high (Bam-ba-lam)
[01:21.43] You know that's no lie (Bam-ba-lam)
[01:23.49] She's so rock steady (Bam-ba-lam)
[01:25.51] And she's always ready (Bam-ba-lam)
[01:27.67] Whoa, Black Betty (Bam-ba-lam)
[01:29.65] Whoa, Black Betty (Bam-ba-lam)
[01:33.59]
[01:38.87] Get it!
[01:41.66]
[03:29.12] Whoa, Black Betty (Bam-ba-lam)
[03:31.16] Whoa, Black Betty (Bam-ba-lam)
[03:33.04] She's from Birmingham (Bam-ba-lam)
[03:35.22] Way down in Alabam' (Bam-ba-lam)
[03:37.25] Well, she's shakin' that thing (Bam-ba-lam)
[03:39.20] Boy, she makes me sing (Bam-ba-lam)
[03:41.31] Whoa, Black Betty (Bam-ba-lam)
[03:43.31] Whoa, Black Betty
[03:44.73] Bam-ba-laaam, yeah, yeah
[03:50.31]

From the album: Haynes Ultimate Guide to Classic Anthems