Black Betty

Ram Jam

Whoa, Black Betty (Bam-ba-Lam)
Whoaaaa , Black Betty (Bam-ba-Lam)

Black Betty had a child (Bam-ba-Lam)
The damn thing gone wild (Bam-ba-Lam)
She said, "I'm worryin' outta mind" (Bam-ba-Lam)
The damn thing gone blind (Bam-ba-Lam)
I said Oh, Black Betty (Bam-ba-Lam)
Whoa, Black Betty (Bam-ba-Lam)

Oh, Black Betty (Bam-ba-Lam)
Whoa, Black Betty (Bam-ba-Lam)

She really gets me high (Bam-ba-Lam)
You know that's no lie (Bam-ba-Lam)
She's so rock steady (Bam-ba-Lam)
And she's always ready (Bam-ba-Lam)
Whoa, Black Betty (Bam-ba-Lam)
Whoa, Black Betty (Bam-ba-Lam)

Whoa, Black Betty (Bam-ba-Lam)
Whoa, Black Betty (Bam-ba-Lam)

She's from Birmingham (Bam-ba-Lam)
Way down in Alabam' (Bam-ba-Lam)
Well, she's shakin' that thing (Bam-ba-Lam)
Boy, she makes me sing (Bam-ba-Lam)
Whoa, Black Betty (Bam-ba-Lam)
Whoa, Black Betty
BAM-BA-LAM


Lyrics submitted by yuri_sucupira

Black Betty song meanings
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  • +4
    General Comment

    Leadbelly is said to have adapted the song from an 18th century marching cadence about a black-painted musket named Black Betty (go figure). Black Bettys child was Brown Bess.

    Leadbellys version, and all subsequent versions could mean just about anything, but at the roots Black Betty is a musket.

    lonesalamanderon February 23, 2011   Link

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