What does Black Betty Bam A Lam mean?
She is the whip that was and is used in some Southern prisons. As late as the 1960s, the vehicle that carried men to prison was known as “Black Betty,” though the same name may have also been used for the whip that so often was laid on the prisoners’ backs, “bam-ba-lam.”
Who wrote Black Betty lyrics?
Lead Belly
Black Betty/Lyricists
Why did Ram Jam break up?
The group split up following the departure of Bartlett and Scavone’s trouble with the law. The second album was probably Aerosmith-inspired. METALLIAN: Jimmy, why don’t we begin by retelling how you came to join the band following the release of the American Ram Jam LP.
Did ZZ Top Do Black Betty?
ZZ Top – Black Betty.
Is the song Black Betty about a black woman?
Indeed it has been suggested that in their version, they are actually singing about a romantic relationship with a Black woman. So the lyrics have remained the same. For instance, when it is said “Black Betty had a child”, maybe going way back this would have been a reference to a musket ball.
What is Betty slang?
“Betty” was a popular term used in the 1980s as slang for a pretty young woman, often paired with “surf” ahead of it, referring to the groups of girls who’d hang around on the beach, and later the skate park as a “skate betty.” But, as Mental Floss writes, lexicon master Jonathon Green gives the term “betty” its roots …
Is the song Black Betty offensive?
No. It was adapted from a chain gang song of long ago sung by black prisoners on work gangs. It can’t be racist.
What’s the meaning of Black Betty?
Black Betty was a liquor, a whip used in prisons for punishment, a musket and/or musket ball, and lastly a sexy black American lady. So, what does “Black Betty” mean or refer to in the popular Ram Jam song, that was also sung by Leadbelly? Clearly it’s about a sexy black American woman.
What happened to Bill Bartlett of Ram Jam?
Bill Bartlett still plays guitar, but in the early 1990s transformed himself into a boogie-woogie piano player. He also plays banjo, harmonica, and has written dozens of songs. Santoro still plays professionally in various bands in New York, and teaches music at an elementary school on Long Island.
When was the song Black Betty released?
1977
Black Betty/Released
Where is the group ram jam from?
New York, NY
Ram Jam/Origin
What is the meaning of the song Black Betty?
“Black Betty” however was originally a work/marching song that reffers to a flint-lock musket with a black painted stock; the “bam-ba-lam” lyric referring to the sound of the gunfire.
Who is Black Betty from Alabama?
Betty from Montgomery, AlAlabama legend states that this song pertains to Betty, who was somewhat of a local legend amongst bar-goers in the early ’40s. She was a blues-enthusiast and performed all across Alabama, performing under the name, “Black Betty.”.
When did Black Betty by Ram Jam enter the Billboard charts?
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn June 5th 1977, “Black Betty” by Ram Jam entered Billboard’s Hot Top 100 chart at position #92; and on August 28th it peaked at #18 (for 1 week) and spent 17 weeks on the Top 100… It was the quartet’s only Top 100 record…