This is the first known recording of this song. Done in 1933 by John Lomax at Central State Farm in Texas. Performed by James Baker and a gang of fellow convicts. Leadbelly recorded his version of this song, again for John Lomax about 3 years later. Taken from Library Of Congress lp.
What is Black Betty? After reading numerous books and scouring sleeve notes and booklets I can say there is no diffinative answer. Popular meanings are a prison transfer wagon, a bull whip (or guard carrying one), a woman, a whiskey bottle and a gun. A song recorded by Lomax "Let Your Hammer Ring" also refers to Black Betty. Being interviewed by Lomax about the song a prisoner stated it refered to the transfer wagon.
It is of course possible prisoners being interviewed wouldn't want to give away the meaning as being a guard or guard with whip for obvious reasons.
Prison songs, spirituals and hollers could be used to convey messages to fellow workers and prisoners etc. Say about a revival meeting or whereabouts of guards and such. It's important to remember though the circumstance of the singers. Their workdays were long, hard, unfulfilling and often against their will. As such, for the most part, the songs served as a cadence to get the work done or a means to lift the spirit.
Here's the lyrics as we hear them:
Remember every sentence is followed by a "bam-a-lam"/"bam-ba-lam". The "x2" in brackets indicates the sentence is sung twice. The words in brackets indicate the change for the second repition.
Oh black betty (x2)
Black Betty where you come from (x2)
Well I come from.....?...
Well I'm going to Texacana
Black betty what's your number (x2)
750 (x2)
Oh lord (lordy) black betty (x2)
Black betty had a baby (x2)
and the damn thing crazy
ah, she dipped it's head in gravy (x2)
Oh lord black betty (x2)
Black betty where she (you) come from (x4)
Oh lord (lordy) black betty (x2)
Now (oh) the baby had blue eyes (x2)
Well it must have been the captains (x2)
Oh lordy black betty (x2)
What is Black Betty? After reading numerous books and scouring sleeve notes and booklets I can say there is no diffinative answer. Popular meanings are a prison transfer wagon, a bull whip (or guard carrying one), a woman, a whiskey bottle and a gun. A song recorded by Lomax "Let Your Hammer Ring" also refers to Black Betty. Being interviewed by Lomax about the song a prisoner stated it refered to the transfer wagon.
It is of course possible prisoners being interviewed wouldn't want to give away the meaning as being a guard or guard with whip for obvious reasons.
Prison songs, spirituals and hollers could be used to convey messages to fellow workers and prisoners etc. Say about a revival meeting or whereabouts of guards and such. It's important to remember though the circumstance of the singers. Their workdays were long, hard, unfulfilling and often against their will. As such, for the most part, the songs served as a cadence to get the work done or a means to lift the spirit.
Here's the lyrics as we hear them:
Remember every sentence is followed by a "bam-a-lam"/"bam-ba-lam". The "x2" in brackets indicates the sentence is sung twice. The words in brackets indicate the change for the second repition.
Oh black betty (x2)
Black Betty where you come from (x2)
Well I come from.....?...
Well I'm going to Texacana
Black betty what's your number (x2)
750 (x2)
Oh lord (lordy) black betty (x2)
Black betty had a baby (x2)
and the damn thing crazy
ah, she dipped it's head in gravy (x2)
Oh lord black betty (x2)
Black betty where she (you) come from (x4)
Oh lord (lordy) black betty (x2)
Now (oh) the baby had blue eyes (x2)
Well it must have been the captains (x2)
Oh lordy black betty (x2)
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