Black Betty

Top choice of a cover song by Spiderbait and good to see that it gave their career a good ol' kick start back to what they were like in the mid-late 90s.

no, it was originally a leadbelly song and heaps of ppl have covered it over the years. I think this is one of the better covers turning a tale of a prostitute? (I think) into a fast adrenaline-packed pumping song.

Personally, I've always thought it was about a gun. That's what I was told.

But I also hear it derived from an old prison cadance.

I, myself... Think that Meat Loaf's cover was AMAZING.

'Black Betty' is a direct reference to the originals creator's love for the Flinstones. It is Betty Rubble in which the singer writes about and goes on to reference the character's son BamBam in the popular lyric: "Bam-ba-lam". BamBam was her "child" and in the show was a rather "wild" Boy as described in the song. The lyricist continues to joyfully represent the Flinstones in the parodying line "She's all rock steady" a throwback remark to the show's usage of the term "rock" as an adjective.

It is also my personal belief that Betty is referred to as "Black" Betty, because of her trademark black hair.

I really dont care what this song is about cuz i think its about nothing. I just like it because one of my friends sometimes he talks really 'ghetto' sometimes and you cant really understand him so i think this song is kinda what he sounds like sometimes like "blambalamlamasdlkhasdf". lol. just a thought....

if l find out who gives these cheap bands permission to cover classic rock songs... l'll give them a smack

It's the classic rock bands themselves I think - they ahve to give permission.

It was orignally a Cuck Berry song.

oh i thought lynard skynard was the orignal...i really like this song regardless who sings it cuz it has GREAT energy! lol!

I know for a fact it was Leadbelly who first RECORDED it. And then Ram Jam took it on to where it became more popular.