Black Betty

This is an old Leadbelly song that he recrded in 1939. My undestanding is that "Betty" had syphillis - that's why the baby went crazy, and also went blind. The baby had congenital syphillis. The original lyrics were a little different than the RAM JAM lyrics. The RAM JAM lyrics seem like thay are about some hot chick. The Leadbelly lyrics are more tragic. I'd cite them here if I could find them, but I can't.

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.

Spiderbait cover was better. I liked the filmclip for it better too.

Love this song. Heard it again on The Losers. Their soundtrack rocks.

Great song, no matter what it means :D

I have not met a person yet who doesn't like this song. This song was covered by Ram Jam in 1977, 40 years ago. My daughter who is 25 and from a totally different era of music, jams out with me, everytime we hear it. It was definitely made b4 it's time. Anyone who says it's lame IS LAME!

this song is great. how is it about speed? i assumed it was about a woman....i read something on the net about racism and that no one reacted to this song as racist....so i'm guessing it's about a woman. It can't be about speed can it? Cus that wouldn't concern racism. If you know more about the speed thing and can back it up please post here, cus I can't see any lyrics that suggest that.

my understanding is that black betty is a type of rifle

it has a black barrel, hence the name it has a "child", a similar rifle without the black barrel it also fits with the Bam Balam part she's so rock steady and she's always ready i'm not sure if i'm remembering this right but i think the thing going blind refers to a clogged barrel and i think it kinda sounds like a military chant

if it isn't a military chant, then it should be

This song could be about all of those things, a rifle, speed, a woman with Syphilis with a baby,or a prison song about the black wagon just depends. I lead more towards the rifle, or speed, but whatever we think, we all agree it a kick ass song and puts you in a good mood no matter what you are thinking about!!! :)

It's about an black Birmingham Alabama hooker.

"She really gets me high (Bam-ba-Lam)" "And she's always ready (Bam-ba-Lam)" "Well, she's shakin' that thing (Bam-ba-Lam) Boy, she makes me sing (Bam-ba-Lam)"

Without doubt, Betty is a happy hooker and good at what she does.

hot song..