Black Betty

Huddie Ledbetter

Looky looky yonder
Looky looky yonder
Looky looky yonder
Where the sun done gone.

The cap'in' (captain) can't hold 'em (him or them)
Cap'in' can't hold 'em
Cap'in' can't hold 'em
The way I do.

Yes Addie gotta gold mine
Addie gotta gold mine
Addie gotta gold mine
Way above her knee.

Looky looky yonder
Looky looky yonder
Looky looky yonder
Where the sun done gone.

[I's just] walking
[I's just] walking
[I's just] walking
All day long.

[She's] been talking
[She's] been talking
[She's] been talking
Babe, all day long.

Looky looky yonder
Looky looky yonder
Looky looky yonder
Where the sun done gone.

Oh Black Betty, Bam da lam
Oh Black Betty, Bam da lam

Black Betty had a baby, Bam da lam
Black Betty had a baby, Bam da lam

Damn thing gone crazy, Bam da lam
Damn thing gone crazy, Bam da lam

Oh Black Betty, Bam da lam
Oh Black Betty, Bam da lam

Oh baby Black Betty, Bam da lam
Oh baby Black Betty, Bam da lam

Black Betty had a baby, Bam da lam
Black Betty had a baby, Bam da lam

Damn thing gone crazy, Bam da lam
Damn thing gone crazy, Bam da lam

Baby wasn't none of mine, Bam da lam
Baby wasn't none of mine, Bam da lam

Damn thing gone blind, Bam da lam
Damn thing gone blind, Bam da lam

Yeah Black Betty, Bam da lam
Whoa Black Betty, Bam da lam

Black Betty, Black Betty, Bam da lam
Black Betty, Black Betty, Bam da lam

Looky here, Black Betty, Bam da lam
Looky here, Black Betty, Bam da lam

Jump steady, Black Betty, Bam da lam
Jump steady, Black Betty, Bam da lam

Last Monday, baby I was arrested
[Lawd (Lord), lawd, lawd]

On Tuesday, I was locked up in jail
[Lawd, lawd, lawd]

On Wednesday, my child was attested
[Lawd, lawd]

On Thursday, [nobody's gonna call my bail,] here's some mo'

Almost done, here's some mo'(more)
Almost done, here's some mo'
Almost done, [Lawd, lawd]

And I ain't gonna, ain't done, [ya'll don't gimme no bail]
[Lawd, lawd, lawd, lawd]

Last Monday, baby I went a'walking
[Lawd, lawd]

On Tuesday, I shot me a'dog
[Lawd, lawd, lawd]

On Wednesday, we was sittin' down a'talking
[Lawd, lawd]

On Thursday, she pawned all of my clothes
[Lawd, lawd, lawd]

Trivia about the song Black Betty by Lead Belly

On which albums was the song “Black Betty” released by Lead Belly?
Lead Belly released the song on the albums “The Best Of Leadbelly” in 2005, “Lead Belly's Last Sessions” in 2006, “Lead Belly's Last Sessions, Vol. 1” in 2006, and “New York City” in 2009.
Who composed the song “Black Betty” by Lead Belly?
The song “Black Betty” by Lead Belly was composed by Huddie Ledbetter.

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