There is no racial connotation originally to this song it was a British army marching song from the early 1700s. Black Betty was a nickname given to the musket carried by the troops, bam a lam was the firing of the weapon. The reference to Birmingham was the city in England where the musket was made and the child refers to the musket ball. The damn thing went wild referes to the inaccuracy of the muskets back then. The song was almost certainly first heard by European settlers from the British Army in the colonies. Of course the song has took on different meanings over the last 300yrs particularly in the states. Did you know the American National Anthem tune was originally a British drinking song?
@@MadAnthonyI The above song WAS a British Army marching song during the War of Spanish Succession 1701-1714 the Brown Bess was manufactored between 1722-1838. The American National Anthem WAS a British drinking song entitled "To Anacreon In Heaven" Anacreon being a Greek poet who loved his wine.
This song goes all the way back to the 1700s. The lyrics have changed Many times. Different singers make up different lyrics depending on how they feel. The only thing that in the keeps the song the same is the lyrics “woo black Betty bam a lam.” Black Betty could be a whip, a gun, a whiskey bottle or several other things. The version by Ram Jam ends with the verses about black Betty down in Alabam “shakes that thing”, So that verse is probably talking about a woman. Think of it as a rap song. They are just rhyming. It doesn’t mean anything.
Verse 1: A powder and ball musket-like rifle made in Birmingham England in the 1700's, and made a bam-a-lam sound. In those days, they made their own ball shaped bullets which would sometimes go wild, and it wasn't from the singer's rifle. Verse 2: Black Betty is/was the name of a brand of whiskey. Verse 3: Black Betty is a woman. Love this song.
Yes, "Black Betty: goes back many years and the lyrics have changed a lot. "black betty" was presented as a woman in this song, but in older lyrics she was a modifier for a whisky bottle, a gun, a bull whip and maybe some other things. So, "Black Betty" can mean whatever you want her to mean.
This song as sung by this band is about a black woman that the singer was involved with. He did an interview about it some time ago about this song. He was clear that it was about a black woman from birmingham, alabama.
Hi Ladies♥There's a 3 song video you can watch on UA-cam called, forgive the title but it was from many years ago, Negro sinful songs sung by Lead Belly with the songs Looky Looky Yonder, Black Betty and Yallow Woman's Door Bells
The song, like many early blues songs, has ties to the great songwriter and performer Lead Belly. (Another famous tune attributed to him is “In the Pines,” made especially famous by Nirvana in the band’s MTV Unplugged performance, then called “My Girl.”)
I subbed b4 I knew y'all parents because ur reaction was pure..I see them in both u 👸👸..keep that openness and appreciate everyone's pocket(groove)..great job..1...PGC
This is a remake of an old chain gang song that is suppose to be about 3 different things - 1st verse is about a gun, 2nd verse is about whisky, & the 3rd verse is about a woman
This song is just literally about him liking a woman and they had a fling. Bam a lam means sex. Back in the 70's if you talked too explicitly about sex you got censored. He even says his remake was about a woman.
Black Betty was a gun used back around the time of the Civil War, And Black Betty was not a very accurate one. It shot Blind, or Wild. But of course, over the years the words have changed. Back in the 1800s Black Betty was also, a chain gang song, as the leader would sing " Oh Black Betty" the men on the chain gang would respond with " Bamb a Lam."
There is no racial connotation originally to this song it was a British army marching song from the early 1700s. Black Betty was a nickname given to the musket carried by the troops, bam a lam was the firing of the weapon. The reference to Birmingham was the city in England where the musket was made and the child refers to the musket ball. The damn thing went wild referes to the inaccuracy of the muskets back then. The song was almost certainly first heard by European settlers from the British Army in the colonies. Of course the song has took on different meanings over the last 300yrs particularly in the states. Did you know the American National Anthem tune was originally a British drinking song?
It was called a Brown Bess.
The National Anthem was an original composed by Francis Scott Keyes, and was not a drinking song.
@@MadAnthonyI The above song WAS a British Army marching song during the War of Spanish Succession 1701-1714 the Brown Bess was manufactored between 1722-1838.
The American National Anthem WAS a British drinking song entitled "To Anacreon In Heaven" Anacreon being a Greek poet who loved his wine.
This song goes all the way back to the 1700s. The lyrics have changed Many times. Different singers make up different lyrics depending on how they feel. The only thing that in the keeps the song the same is the lyrics “woo black Betty bam a lam.” Black Betty could be a whip, a gun, a whiskey bottle or several other things. The version by Ram Jam ends with the verses about black Betty down in Alabam “shakes that thing”, So that verse is probably talking about a woman. Think of it as a rap song. They are just rhyming. It doesn’t mean anything.
Verse 1: A powder and ball musket-like rifle made in Birmingham England in the 1700's, and made a bam-a-lam sound. In those days, they made their own ball shaped bullets which would sometimes go wild, and it wasn't from the singer's rifle. Verse 2: Black Betty is/was the name of a brand of whiskey. Verse 3: Black Betty is a woman. Love this song.
Black Betty is a reference to a Black powder musket - the baby is the bullet. It's an old work song.
ol black Betty,one hell of a song!!!
Yes, "Black Betty: goes back many years and the lyrics have changed a lot. "black betty" was presented as a woman in this song, but in older lyrics she was a modifier for a whisky bottle, a gun, a bull whip and maybe some other things. So, "Black Betty" can mean whatever you want her to mean.
This song as sung by this band is about a black woman that the singer was involved with. He did an interview about it some time ago about this song. He was clear that it was about a black woman from birmingham, alabama.
Hi Ladies♥There's a 3 song video you can watch on UA-cam called, forgive the title but it was from many years ago, Negro sinful songs sung by Lead Belly with the songs Looky Looky Yonder, Black Betty and Yallow Woman's Door Bells
“A Betty” in the south is a beautiful woman, like Betty Davis, etc. she’s such a Betty means to us she’s a beauty ❤
Kinda like a Cajun Queen... Just another beautiful black girl :)
The song, like many early blues songs, has ties to the great songwriter and performer Lead Belly. (Another famous tune attributed to him is “In the Pines,” made especially famous by Nirvana in the band’s MTV Unplugged performance, then called “My Girl.”)
I subbed b4 I knew y'all parents because ur reaction was pure..I see them in both u 👸👸..keep that openness and appreciate everyone's pocket(groove)..great job..1...PGC
Thank you so much!
Black Betty was a name of the riflle during american civil war,rigt shitty?yes,you dident shot a target..fak..
Y'all are adorable.
This is a remake of an old chain gang song that is suppose to be about 3 different things - 1st verse is about a gun, 2nd verse is about whisky, & the 3rd verse is about a woman
Word was, they were given $500 to make the video, but spent over 400 on beer and weed, and had to make the video in a friends yard 🤣
Song has about 6 different meanings..hope all will just enjoy the song..beat..and the 1970s..
Recorded by Huddy "Leadbelly" Leadbetter in the 1930s.
Rumor is they talking about a black powder musket rifle. Not a woman.
This song is just literally about him liking a woman and they had a fling. Bam a lam means sex. Back in the 70's if you talked too explicitly about sex you got censored. He even says his remake was about a woman.
Need to do some sound dampening to kill the echo. Nice reaction any way
Black Betty was a gun used back around the time of the Civil War, And Black Betty was not a very accurate one. It shot Blind, or Wild.
But of course, over the years the words have changed. Back in the 1800s Black Betty was also, a chain gang song, as the leader would sing " Oh Black Betty" the men on the chain gang would respond with " Bamb a Lam."
IVE SEEN THAT ELVIS IN OTHER VIDEOS
Me too! Can't remember where but sure I will see it again.
But that will not stop me from dating either of you ;)
its about a Alabama go go dancer listen to the lyrics
Producer gave them 500 bucks to record this
Black Betty was mostly about a gun and Black tar herion
It cost about $100 to make the video and half of that was for weed !
Obvious you are in another room