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First Time Hearing "Ram Jam" - Black Betty
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ก.ค. 2022
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Fun fact - Director of the video asked them how much they needed to shoot the video. Ram Jam responded... 200 dollars. Director thought it was for production. It was for weed to get them in the zone 😂. The video was shot in the drummers backyard.
They got enough for everyone with 200 bucks! This video reminds me of back in the day party's out in the country. I'd hop on the back of a bike and .... no helmet! 😬❤️✌️
🔥
That’s fantastic 😅😂
Another Fun fact:
Although the song was a huge hit, they didn't make one penny off of it after being sued
@@SirWrecksy why did they get sued?
I'm old enough to be your grandfather and I have to say you all crack me up! I really enjoy watching you guys get excited about music that I enjoyed as a young man back in the 70's!
Man your time was Full of the best music. And here I am Stuck with the gen-z songs, like the OG singers like M Cyrus perfect, but todays rap. I just don’t like it. I hope This gave you some happiness in knowing that some people still like classic music.
70s has some of the best music combining lots of styles and with great musicians.
CHURCH!
@@anilu3021 Thats exactly why we (GenZ) who were part of the 70's just cant shut up about 60's & 70's music. There was _SO MUCH_ playing on the radio back then, no matter where you put the dial: pop, hard rock, soft rock, folk rock, progressive rock, country, contemporary orchestra/ elevator music, blues, soul, funk, motown, jazz-funk, contemp jazz, the list goes on
GenY (Millennials) talk alot about 80's music, naturally because it was their first decade of life. Perfectly understandable. But a massive variety of 60's & 70's material was still playing on the radio in the 80's too- - - they just don't mention that
@@God-of-canine "OG singers like M Cyrus"
what.
No matter the history of Black Betty, these guys were singing and ram jamming about a fine wild WOMAN. The group RAM JAM could not have cared less about the history of the song, but they did love women.
First verse is about a rifle, and the second and third was added by this singer and was about a lady. The singer said his version was about Bettie Page. She was renowned for having black hair, and was from Birmingham. Bettie was notorious as being the "drunken woman at the party". You need to listen to the original version by Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter. That's mostly just the first verse and is about a musket with a black painted stock. 'Bam a lam' referred to the sound of its gunfire. Its an old song which has had new lyrics added to it.
That was MY jam back in the day!!! Oh how I wish we could have the 70's back!!!
😎 That would be awesome
I graduated high school in 1970
1980 from Sayville H.S. in Lake Ronkonkoma, Long Island!😁
I agree … miss everything about the 70’s music , and my youth . These young men just took me back in time. 😊✌🏼
We would blow these young kids' minds out into orbit!!😂
We grew up with the best music!!❤
Black Betty was a song by blues legend Lead Belly, Huddie Ledbetter back in the 1930s. Ram Jam was just covering it with their rocking version.
Did not know that!!!!
its also about gun that couldnt shoot straight. "the damn thing gone blind". the child is the bullet.
Yep he is a local celebrity in Shreveport, La.
I was to understand that it started in the civil war with the black soldiers talking about a gun that was used and a next gun made that wasn’t as accurate and was called the child of black Betty.
Ironically, radio stations wouldn't play the cover because it was thought racist. It's way more popular now.I have found the original song by Lead Belly on youtube. Fun listen
Black Betty was a Leadbelly song. Leadbelly was folk and blues artist back in the 40"s. He played many instruments, but was most noteable for his strong vocals, and 12 string guitar. Covers of his many folk songs have became hits for many rock and roll artists. Including Led Zepplin, Creedance Clearwater Revival, Nirvana, and of course Ram Jam. Leadbelly is definatley someone worth checking out.
Lead Belly recorded in 1939.
I saw this guy on Judge Mathis tryna get his guitar back. Mathis says Hey that songs kinda racist isnt it? Dude goes "Its a Leadbelly cover"
Yeah I forgot it went bk... but a Betty is also a hot chick here lol
@@crlchsSeems to be growing in popularity now in 2023.
The Lomaxes & James Iron head Baker were before Leadbelly.
"Black Betty" is a 20th century African-American work song often credited to Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter as the author, though the earliest recordings are not by him. Some sources claim it is one of Lead Belly's many adaptations of earlier folk material; in this case an 18th century marching cadence about a flint-lock musket.
The song was first recorded in the field by U.S. musicologists John and Alan Lomax in 1933, performed a cappella by the convict James Baker (also known as Iron Head) and a group at Central State Farm, Sugar Land, Texas.
The Lomaxes were recording for the Library of Congress and later field recordings in 1934, 1936 and 1939 also include versions of "Black Betty". It was recorded commercially in New York in 1939 for the Musicraft label by blues artist Lead Belly, as part of a medley with two other work songs: "Looky Looky Yonder" and "Yellow Woman's Doorbells".Lead Belly had a long association with the Lomaxes, and had himself served time in State prison farms.
The origin and meaning of the lyrics are subject to debate. Some sources claim the song is derived from an 18th century marching cadence about a flint-lock musket with a black painted stock; the "bam-ba-lam" lyric referring to the sound of the gunfire. Soldiers in the field were said to be "hugging Black Betty". In this interpretation, the musket was superseded by its "child", a musket with an unpainted walnut stock known as a "Brown Bess".
In "Caldwells's Illustrated Combination Centennial Atlas of Washington Co. Pennsylvania of 1876", there is a short section describing wedding ceremonies and marriage customs on page 12. Caldwell describes a wedding tradition where two young men from the bridegroom procession were challenged to run for a bottle of whiskey. This challenge was usually given when the bridegroom party was about a mile from the destination home where the ceremony was to be had. Upon securing prize, referred to as "Black Betty" the winner of the race would bring the bottle back to the bridegroom and his party. The whiskey was offered to the bridegroom first and then successively to each of the grooms friends.
The earliest meaning of "Black Betty" in the United States (from at least 1827) was a liquor bottle.In January 1736, Benjamin Franklin published The Drinker's Dictionary in the Pennsylvania Gazette offering 228 round-about phrases for being drunk. One of those phrases is "He's kiss'd black Betty."
David Hackett Fischer, in his book Albion's Seed: Four British Folkways in America (Oxford University Press, 1989), states that "Black Betty" was a common term for a bottle of whisky in the borderlands of northern England/southern Scotland, and later in the backcountry areas of the eastern United States.
In an interview conducted by Alan Lomax with a former prisoner of the Texas penal farm named Doc Reese (aka "Big Head"), Reese stated that the term "Black Betty" was used by prisoners to refer to the "Black Maria" - the penitentiary transfer wagon.
From an old retired teacher in Tennessee, you guys cracked me up as you listened to this song. I haven't enjoyed a reaction clip so much in a long time. Glad you enjoyed the song from back in my day:)
"Who's Betty White? You ain't got no culture." I couldn't stop laughing.
I lost it.
oh man, that killed me!!!
lmao!
Hilarious
2:09 lol
I'm a 60+ year old black woman. When this Song dropped it was all over the place! Everybody jammed to it!! I went to school with 3 black girls named "Betty".. Another Song that's similar is by the Georgia Satellites called "Keep Your Hands to Yourself". You should check it out.
Definitely should listen to "Keep your hands to yourself"
This song totally sounds like Georgia Satellites. Wish they had done more. Only Betty I've heard is Veronica's friend (and Archie's gf), Bette White, and Davis lol
I'm a 60+ white guy, and we, too, were way into this song as teens..... Mainly, i liked th hard driving meter and drum work
It’s amazing how many cultural lines good music crosses. Georgia satellites song is another good one.
Let me check!
I enjoyed this song for over forty years. You cats having so much fun on this video makes me think I might have missed out! You're a riot and God bless.
Back in the late 70's, this was one of our boys' high school varsity basketball team warm-up songs, along with Queen - We Will Rock You and We Are the Champions, Commodores - Brick House, and Wild Cherry - Play That Funky Music
Our gym rocked out before every home game, all the way to win the Alaska State Tournament in 1979 and again in 1980...good memories!
Thanks, guys!
Clearly great songs for a great team!!!
It's A VERY old African-American work song, from almost a hundred years ago. The earliest known recordings are by a Hall of Fame blues artist called "LeadBelly". It'd be INCREDIBLE for you guys to dive into the old roots of Rock blues artists. Howlin Wolf, Muddy Waters, LeadBelly, Robert Johnson, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, & the many others. You're doing great guys. 🙂🙏👍❤
You just listed all of my favorites. I think we just became best friends lmfao
Older than that - over 200 years old
@@RedRuffinsoreexactly, It was a cadence that American soilders sang in the revolutionary warfighting the british
You really educated an old southern white woman. I had no idea this was a "Ledbelly" song. Trippen
@@brendabernstein286 you're pedantry doesn't phase me.
Great to see the younger generation enjoying good old rock ‘n’ roll. Nothing will ever replace it
Our generation(s) stay alive thanks to you folks, thank you for that.
The song Hit the radio when I was in high school in the first half of the 1970s. We all nearly fell over it was so crazy and I'm surprised that today's radio will still even play it.
You can't help but love this song!!! 👍🏻
I’m an American woman now living in Ireland that ADORED.....dancing to disco in the 70’s in high school but WOW, remember well blasting Black Betty at any home party we’d throw! ....It makes me laugh out loud everytime I replay ur reaction to it! Thanks for the joy you guys give out👏🏻👏🏻🥰🥰🙌🙌🙌
"I’m an American woman now living in Ireland that ADORED."
That is a strange sentence.
She is saying she adored dancing to disco,etc. I remember using that term in my twenties.What a joy it is to see these guys rocking out to beloved songs from the past!u
Hear! Hear!
As soon as I no longer have the current dogs I have I want to move to Ireland. I’d love to buy my great grandmothers cottage on Inishfree and visit family in Co Donegal. Also visit where the Kelly and McCarville clans were from.
You go Mah!!!!! Awesomeness 👌🏻 👏🏻 👍🏻 😍
I believe each verse refers to a different “Betty”; a gun, a woman, drugs etc. awesome reaction!
First verse a rifle,second a liquor(it's an old song),third a lady!
Back in the day some prison had a whip and they called it,"Ole Black Betty"..so I heard don't know for sure.
All of it is moonshine. First verse about the head (child) coming off the still. Strongest proof alcohol, (drives you wild), and also cause you to go blind (damn thing gone blind…)
@@danielcastiglione5328 That's interesting.
Yeah. My husband looked it up and it actually might be about a gun. But as a kid I thought it was an inappropriate racial song about black women. Haha. Not that’s it’s inappropriate to like black women but I always thought it would be offensive to me if I was a black woman. Hate the woke shit now. We’re all too sensitive. I kinda hope it was about a black woman and not a damn gun. Haha
I am no bleeding heart, but I love how good music has no color lines and reveals how much we all have in common. Music is a gift from God.
Truth is, there's only One Race, the Human Race. Bible says so.
OLD TESTAMENT
Genesis 3:20
And Adam named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all the living.
Genesis 9:18
The sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And Ham was the father of Canaan. 19These three were the sons of Noah, and from them the whole earth was populated.
NEW TESTAMENT
Acts 17:26
“And from one blood he made the whole world of humanity to be dwelling on the whole surface of The Earth and he marked out the times in his decrees and set the coasts of the dwelling places of humanity,”
We all have the same Grandmother, Eve...and Grandfather, Noah. One big family that the devil works hard at dividing. Don't listen to him. We're all cousins!
That's a true blue message. Thank you.
Well said
Red and yellow, black and white. We are precious in his sight. CNN and FoxNews try to make up forget that.
Very well put!
There was so much good original songs in the 70's and 80's that we didn't pay much attention to them. We just took it for granted and enjoyed them all at parties and dances. Watching you guys freak out at hearing them is so funny. Glad you all are enjoying them as much as we did.
This song is about 100 years old
"Black Betty" was a rifle used during the Civil War. Black Betty's Child was a newer version and shot like shit.... hence 'gone blind'
Then it was a chain gang song. This tune has been around a long time!!
This is just a short version, the story is actually very interesting. Look it up!
You got the history right 100%
Interesting- thanks!
I thought I heard the chaingang singing this!
Urban legend, I'm afraid. The Wiki on this song is instructive.
There's a bunch of possible meanings for "Black Betty", but some leading contenders are a transplanted northern English slang-term for a bottle of whisky, the whips used to beat enslaved people in the South ("bam-a-lam"), or Southern slang for the secured wagon/truck used to transport prisoners, also sometimes called the "Black Maria".
I had no idea! If I did know this, it’s been so long I forgot! Thanks!
Even Lead Belly confessed this song pre-dated him by several generations. It was a Revolutionary War cadence song used by American troops in fighting the British. Black Betty was the vernacular for Kentucky squirrel rifles, known for their deadly accuracy and a black walnut stock. Listen to the lyrics more closely and you will now hear the correct context.
You think a squirrel rifle would be any good against troops?
It was an English musket that was derived from a previous model, but
had a tendency to explode and blind the shooter.
@@patverum9051 like all muskets?
Thank you George Ralph much respect to you
@@patverum9051 During the colonial period, settlers and pioneers became trained sharpshooters. They had to learn the skill in order to protect their families and provide food and clothing from the hides of animals. Their weapon of choice was designed so that a marksman could effectively kill a squirrel jumping out of a tree at three hundred yards or better. Because of its remarkable craftsmanship and accuracy this weapon, or rifle, soon became known throughout the world. Though thousands of muskets and rifles were made in Europe, the Kentucky Rifle, custom made in American, developed a reputation as the finest rifle made, and the premier firearm for over a century.
Thanks really appreciate it very much.
Black Betty was once & old revolutionary war song about a GUN from long ago. Through the years it's taken on many different versions, styles, & facets. With words being added & changed. This being one of those versions.
Black Betty was also a slang term for Black Beauties, amphetamines that came in black capsules. VERY popular during this era, as were songs being centered around drug use. I grew up in it.
WAY back in the day you could find ads in the back of magazines on the east coast. You used to be able to order them out of NYC
70's music was the bomb, even my grown kids love the music I grew up with!! I remember this song, partied to it many a times
I loved growing up in the 70's. We did jam hard back then!
@@worthrepeating44 Same here. The 70s rocked.
This is how we partied in the 70's, in someone's yard, bonfires, at lakes with great music! There's a long version you should listen to.
And well into the 80's too.
Oh lord, I remember those backyard or country woods parties with the hunch punch!
Garage bands
@@TheBubbaClemson that's right.. some of the best times in my life.. Sadly, the kids today have missed out on those good old day's..
It was expected that every body have a Blast but also everyone looked out for each other. A young person stayed over at the house and they didn't drive home drunk. We watched out for each other and in doing so, it was relatively safe to party like that back then. No cops were called...no cops ever came to bother us! No one doing stupid stuff at the house parties with weapons. If a fight broke out at all, which was extremely rare, it was Mano y Mano, fighting with fists! It didn't last but a minute cause it would be broken up! Being cool then didn't mean looking cool, or saying cool things. "Being Cool" meant flying under the radar...unnoticed! Not attracting attention to our party! That was very, very important then. No one wanted to go to Juvenile hall or to jail.
On the pro rodeo circuit there was a black horse named black Betty and everytime she was rode they would play this song. It would get you so pumped up when she’s bucking across the arena with this banger playing loud.
Just discovered you guys today. You have no idea how much I needed a good laugh and a few smiles. Thanks for being so fun and open minded about old music!
There is a longer version to this song. Danced to this when I was in high school back in the '70's. We did have some good bands back then. Glad you guys enjoyed it. Music and food is universal language.
Yes, the longer version is even hotter fyre.
Black Betty by Starstruck
They should've backed this with Mississippi Queen, am I right or am I right? ;)
@@mala3isity yes!!!
Black Betty refers to an old weapon from the Revolutionary War. But it's definitely a double entendre. Love this song.
No, it doesn't. Rumors with no known citations. Brown Bess may be what you're thinking of.
@@anacara9772 Not only do I have access to a search engine, but also a degree in military history. I'll take my answer over your attempt at an insult any day of the week. Oh, and if you're going to attempt to correct others yourself, how about you cite your work....or do you not have access to a search engine?
In an interview conducted by Alan Lomax with former Texas penal farm prisoner Doc "Big Head" Reese, Reese stated that the term "Black Betty" was used by prisoners to refer to the "Black Maria" - the penitentiary transfer wagon. That’s one version with citations.
@@BelovedChatter That's a usage of the term that I AM familiar with. I agree with you.
Because Lead Belly couldn't help singing about Revolutionary War weapons. :/
One of my favorite parts about this song is it’s length, just 2 1/2 minutes. A short song says one of two things: “I can’t think of anything else to say”, or “I said all I needed to”. This is definitely the second option.
Lovely watching your reactions boys. Song's great. God did we look like that in the 70's.
a one hit wonder but loved this song, i was a teenager in the 70's, we had lots of backyard jams like this
Makes me wonder how they only made one hit, with their energy, sound and skill. Sad!
Yes! Grew up in southern California and if we weren't at a concert, we'd be at someone's house jammin' and living la vida loca 😃
Start it off with Hair of the dog by Nazerath then some Slow ride by Foghat ,, Then Some More than a feeling by Boston , Then some Lay it on the line by Toto ,, The some Jane by Jefferson starship ,Then some Dance the night a way by Van Halen Then some KISS I wanna rock and roll all night, For starters lol THE 70s WERE so much fun
I listened to all their music and I agree. It was their only good one. Amazes me how you can make such a jamming song and not have any others that come close on your albums.
Young dudes digging old rock. Makes my heart sing!
Black Betty was a field holler. It was arranged by Bill Bartlett who plays guitar and sings the vocal.
It is so much fun watching you guys. I remember when the song came out. Yes I am that f---king old.
This song was originally written as a work song in the early part of the 20th century & possibly into the 19th century. It was credited to Huddle "Lead Belly" Ledbetter. However there seemed to be earlier singers.
A Lead Belly version?
Its a public domain song...LB popularized it just like Were did you sleep last night and couple others...
LeadBelly version ..
th-cam.com/video/SJUSGuNxt-4/w-d-xo.html
1933 recording …
th-cam.com/video/tiCEVl_9-MM/w-d-xo.html
Love the fact these young guys can appreciate an old groove like this! Praise rock 'n roll
The guy in the Can't Fold t-shirt was awesome, that's the way I feel whenever i hear this song, and I've been listening to it for decades ❤🎉
That's not before heavy metal, guys. The first heavy metal album came out in 1970. That album was by Black Sabbath. They were the very first metal band
I'm glad I'm as old as I am because I grew up on good music. Tom Jones, Elvis, Phil Collins, SRV, Muddy Waters, BB King, Peter Frampton, ELO, All of Motown, Rolling Stones, Canned Heat, Santana, Cat Stevens, the list goes on and on. Plus there was no auto tune or other bs. It was pure magical talent.
That’s when all the music came together, some for a convergence, and out popped entirely new genres! Which was so cool! That’s why it’s utterly ridiculous when anyone wants to bring up “cultural appropriation” for anyone or anything! We don’t copycat, we admire and mimic! No one here knows what anything original was or who copied what!
The real truth.
I'm with you, but Canned Heat had such crap vocals, it borders on comedy. Just listen to "Remember Woodstock." It's laughably bad.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
King James Version
15 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
@@Angus-Johnson-8334 seek the wisdom of Hermes Trismegistus.
This we played before a night out circa 1982
Now going back to the British, it is also said that ‘Black Betty’ was a nickname for a certain type of musket, i.e. an old-timey gun with black paint. And in that regard, the phrase “bam-ba-lam”, as recited in the lyrics, is said to be intended to imitate the sound of gunfire.
Not just that:
"Black Betty had a child" refers to the musket ball, aka bullet, fired by the musket.
"The damn thing gone wild" refers to that musket's notoriously poor accuracy, with shots often going off into the wild instead of their targets.
Thus song was still popular in 1992 when I was in highschool and college. It was a popular House song back then.
Joanne, that's really interesting. Thank you for this.
Believe it or not in the 60s we really didn't look at color
Your reactions are priceless. I’m cracking up watching you guys. 😂
You can hear Leadbelly’s recording of this song from 1939 on TH-cam, too!
It’s an old song. Lyrics change depending on who sings it too.
leadbelly the og -- nirvana covered a song from him too
Wow Lisa, happy to see you know Leadbelly, You rock.
💜 Leadbelly One of the greats. My second behind Robert Johnson.
It's even older than Leadbelly too. I've heard an old field holler rendition. One of the Lomax recordings I think.
@@radioethiopiate9327 Wow I’m going to have to look for it! Who knows how long the song was around before anyone recorded it.
It's always fun seeing Bill Bartlett rocking. I've known him since 67..1967. He was a student at Miami U in Oxford Ohio. He was in Tony and the bandits, the Lemon Pipers, etc. He still lives around here (Oxford). Good man, great guitarist and musician!
I discovered your channel. You guys are adorable and make me smile.
It’s so much fun watching you young guys enjoy the music of my youth❤️
This song is about a gun. The bullet is the child. Been jamming this most of my life.
Ram Jams awesome one hit.
Black Betty was a gun that would explode into pieces often killing the shooter. Bad. So her "child" was made.
You gentlemen have made my day. My grandbaby is bopping her head just like you all. Much love from New York and thank you!!!
We were all doing the same thing too!
This recording by Ram Jam is a masterpiece. Everybody loves it.
Black Betty" was a cadence sung by black confederate soldiers during the civil war. Black Betty was a rifle made in Birmingham, Alabama. The company that made the gun made an "improved model", hence "Black Betty had a child". They hated the new rifle because it didn't shoot straight. Hence, "damned thing gone wild". Ram Jam put music to the 160-year-old cadence.
Info: In 1977, the American rock band Ram Jam re-recorded this song. The recording peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, number 7 in the UK Singles Chart and number 25 in Germany. At the same time, civil rights organizations such as the NAACP and the Congress of Racial Equality called for a boycott of the song. Your reaction is great.
What you forgot to say is Ram Jam gave full credit to Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter as the author. So the NAACP and the Congress of Racial Equality cost the decedents of Ledbetter royalty Money by keeping the song off the major radio stations in California as well as many NE states.
Ram Jam did right by Ledbetter (a Black folk singer Born in the South in 1888) it was the NAACP and the Congress of Racial Equality who did him wrong.
Seeing racist stuff where none is present
@Michelle Not much of a stretch, The 1st rule in the "Helping the Disadvantaged" game I'm sure is *never really help the Disadvantaged enough that they don't still need you* or you're out of a job.
I loved as soon as the beat started, their heads started bobbing in sync. Awesome.
Your enthusiasm for good music is Awesome to watch !
I just found this channel. I had to find this Black Betty one because the gentleman in the Adidas shirt sings it in the future episodes of rock band reactions. 🤣🤣🤣 Hearing him just bust out 🎶 Oh Black Betty Bam a lam 🎶 has me literally in tears laughing. Y’all have made my day.
You young men crack me up. I love your willingness to explore different genres that span decades, and topics. This Gen X lame momma is proud of you all! Much love and happiness to you all
It was in the movie, “Blow” starring Johnny Depp when he is walking through the airport in a white suit! It is what you would call a one hit wonder! FYI, I LOOOOOVE watching you all as a group reacting to music! I love it! Stay hip, stay new, stay in contact with roots of origin! Much love ✌🏻
Great movie also
That's how I pictured Johnny walking out of court vs. Amber Heard.
I love all the songs of the movie,outstanding compilation
A hit from 1977 RELEASED IN the 70s ,,
Love 🫶🏼 how you guys experienced this cool ass song… had the same reaction when I first heard it back in 2001
love the genuine joy of enjoying music!
“Betty” isn’t a black name, per se, it’s a generational name. It was once a very popular name in the US, but mostly for the generations born 1920s - 1950s.
It's a nickname for one of the most popular names on the planet. The name 'Elizabeth' has a LOT of nicknames associated with it, including Liz, Liza, Lizzy, Beth, Betty, Bette, and many more.
My aunt was named Betty. 🙏 RIP. And my other aunt was named Bette (pronounced Betty).
@@Mr.Ekshin Elizabeth and Victoria were the prime names in the early 20th century.
My mom wanted to name me Betty but my dad wouldn't stand for it. We had 3 Betty's in the family already.
@@Mr.Ekshin and Betsy
🤣 You guys kill me!
It just shows we all need an open mind. I've always thought music brought us together.
Thanks for this.
I felt that way all my life, I'm a gen xer and the music of our day did change the world for better, at least for awhile,
LMFAO
WHEN Y'all FINALLY GOT IT!!!
BETTY WAS BLACK AND ALL TOGETHER LOVELY
"Black Betty" was a cadence sung by black confederate soldiers during the civil war. Black Betty was a rifle made in Birmingham, Alabama. The company that made the gun made an "improved model", hence "Black Betty had a child". They hated the new rifle because it didn't shoot straight. Hence, "damned thing gone wild". Ram Jam put music to the 160 year old cadence.
Thank you for taking me back to the 70s and fifth grade when Black Betty hit the radio. It still kicks ass!!
Black Betties is speed. A huge drug back in the 70's. black Betty” was synonymous with a bottle of whiskey in particular dating as far back as 17th century London. Black Betty’ was a nickname for a certain type of musket, i.e. an old-timey gun with black paint. And in that regard, the phrase “bam-ba-lam”, as recited in the lyrics, is said to be intended to imitate the sound of gunfire. But with that being said “Black Betty”, as in the song Ram Jam is covering, is recognized as an African-American labor chant. The current version was written in 1933. That being said it is believed they are singing about getting smashed drunk on Black Betty liquor.
My mom & aunts use 2 talk about Black Bettie’s…. Basically they were the shit. Todays adderall
I had forgotten it was slang for speed in the 70s. I remember the term dusted…..angel dust. Anyone remember what reds was? The Grateful Dead line pops in my head “livin on reds, vitamin C & cocaine”
Yup
You are 100% incorrect. The pills were black beauties, not black Betty's. The song is all about civil war rifle and its second version. PS, i took plenty of black beauties in the 70's thay were also classed as uppers (speed) and their counterpart, yellow jackets (downers) 🥳🤪
Actually when they mentioned black Betty they were actually talking about heroin - Black tar
IDK who the guy in the green cap is, but watching him enjoy the song makes me happy. 🤣🤣🤣I know this song and it JAMS!!!!
You guys are the best!! Love how you have been checking all the old stuff.
Leadbelly was the first to be recorded singing it, but it’s much older than that. Many have ideas about what the song is about, but one is based an a military marching song. The chorus style and rhythm matches up very closely to this. The term black Betty isn’t unlike Brown Bess, which was a musket. Bam the lamb and thing gone wild is about shooting the gun, and when a ball flares off course. So, due to this, some believe it was a marching song for the Buffalo Soldiers…
I don't believe buffalo soldiers sang marching songs. They weren't that kind of soldier.. it wasn't a cult.
Very informative....thank you
@@keetahbrough you’re kidding, right? All US soldiers sing marching cadences. It’s part of their training.
Actually it was a cadence that was used on the chain gangs working in the 20’s and 30’s.
@@keetahbrough “It wasn’t a cult”? Do you think regiments with marching songs are a cult? That’s amongst the stupidest sh1t I’ve had the misfortune to read today. Well done.
Grand Funk Railroad...
Song...Inside Looking Out 1969 live...PURE FUNK
If you liked Black Betty you'll Love this....Old school FUNK
Enjoying your Channel 🤗
YESSSSSS!
👍
Love GFR!!! Winter and my soul is a great song too! Check it out sometime. 😘
Thanks fellows. You’re personalities and black Betty are just what I needed to wake me up and get ready to face the day. Have a great day 😀
Just watched this December 24th 2023 you guys are fun and opening hearts. Have a blessed holiday season.
Gentlemen, this is a golden jewel from your own history.
Wow I didn’t know that 😮
25
Binge watching you guys. Can't stop laughing. Your infectious humour and perspective crosses boundaries. Signed 62 yr old white woman...yup
Yes! Thier vibe is so entertaining. Love watching them. I'm a 40 year old white woman lol
Ditto baby! 43 y/o white lady here. Yup yup
53 yr old here! Love it!
Yeah and a 74yo white man here! These guys are soooooo fun to watch. And I'm glad to be here! That's some def southern rock right here! Check out some Lynyrd Skynyrd for some more!!
Y'all be safe.
56-yo white woman here. You guys have a most unexpected fan base!
Best review I’ve seen yet. We listened to this in high school.
You folks rock.
Damn! He was shredding that guitar within an inch of its life.
When the singing starts with that beat behind it never fails to make people vibe with it haha such a vibe
Awesome song! Never gets old...
This a Solid Banger of a Song 🎵 70s & 80s Rocks Forever 😎⭐️
Ohohoh and some BB KING. I Gotta Move out of my Neighborhood. So many fun songs...music is THE universal language. Crosses all barriers. ❤
Goes back to Leadbelly
He's the original.
Great renditions over the years. Ram Jam truly made it their own.
Always love this one. Thanks for the reaction ❤
Pre-dates Ledbelly
Love this song! You guys are so hyped I love it!!!
In the 70s we didn't look at color. I'm 74 white and in the 70s i had a Afro a black Cobra II Mustang and a license plate on the front that said Black Betty. My name is Betty. I loved that song!!!!!
This is actually a cover of an old blues song whos origin is shrouded in mystery. Ram Jam weren't the first to sing it.
I love seeing new reaction to this. This was in 1973. We were into loving. If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with. That sort of thing. Race didn't factor into it. We all partied and hung out, lived in communes, had the best music ever, like Hendrix and Earth, Wind, and Fire and a hundred more.
This reaction had me in tears! You guys are so freaking funny and entertaining. The best reaction I've seen all year.... all your heads bopping to the beat.... priceless.
Oh shit! I’m back here again! Love your reaction to Black Betty ❤️
Love this channel. Watching these young men jamming to the old school tunes... reactions are priceless.😁👍👍
One of the best rock songs of my time . Had the pleasure of watching them live.
Good reaction! The "Black Betty" was actually a type of musket.
Yeah but not in this song.
@@termoyl Indeed! "Black Betty" certainly has a double-meaning in this song. 😁
I think you mean Black Bess a British musket.
@@musicferret1829 The British had the "Brown Bess". As I understand it, the stock on the Black Betty was black in colour because of the wood the Americans used and how they finished the product. The British had a brown stock on their musket because they used a different type wood. I'm not an expert on it but that is how it was explained to me.
@@mrichards6795 Exact same thing I was told years ago.
Loved this song as a kid in the 70s, another great song from the same time you could listen to is Cozy Powell Dance with the Devil, its fantastic , love seeing youngsters like you listen to old stuff like this, great reaction guys, real music .
You four sitting there bopping your heads to this 70's rock song is some funny azz shit. I love it.
Back in the 70s we went to go go bars and they would play this. When I'm driving and this song comes on. Everyone watch out. Keep on rocking my friends. TX. Good night Graceland that's for the king
Loved that all 4 of y'all started head bobbing as soon as the song started to the end lol. You guys are killing it.
Australian here I also grew up listening to this song ... brilliant ...
You guys are adorable. I could be your mom. I'd love to hang out and listen to 70s music with you. Too fun. Thank you for your channel 🙏
Some are pointing to "black betty" being a gun. Others have other ideas. I once saw an explanation that seems to make sense. The lines going:
Oh oh Black Betty (you gunny gun you)
Bam-a-lam (sound of gunfire)
Black Betty had a child (gun firing a bullet)
The damn thing gone wild (bullet wasn't precise at all)
A said it weren't non of mine (I didn't fire that useless shot)
The damn thing gone blind (bullet can't "see" the target)
-------------
She really get's me high (Blood pumping during battle)
She's so rock steady (Trustworthy gun - rarely fails)
That's no lie (It really IS trustworthy)
She's always ready (Good quality in a gun)
-------------
Third verse is mostly about where this is all taking place.
Whether this is true or not...... well f*ck me if I know. I was 6 when it came out, but this is what some people think.
This is what I have heard as well. I've attended a few historical reenactments and some muskets were referred to as Black Bettys there. The last verse, however, was about an actual women . . . or so I've been told.
The lead singer in an interview admitted the song was about a gun. Who cares if other people don't agree? He stated exactly wtf the song was about, when the song hit the top 40 charts.
Verse 1 is about a gun
Verse 2 is about drugs/alcohol
Verse 3 is about a woman/prostitute
I love this song. If I was ever an MMA fighter or a boxer this would be my walkout song.
This song will not go away in the brain for ever
You are bringing a lot of joy to this middle-aged white lady! Look up R&B hits from the early to mid 70s. Stevie Wonder "You Haven't Done Nothing" for starters.
Ha ! Or , I Wish " " !