Ram Jam: The Confusing History of 'Black Betty'

Поделиться
HTML-код
  • Опубликовано: 24 ноя 2024

Комментарии • 182

  • @rnrtruestories
    @rnrtruestories  2 года назад +8

    Status Audio Link! Get 10% Off With Promo Code ROCKNROLL
    status.co/rocknroll

    • @chrispaquette7855
      @chrispaquette7855 2 года назад

      How many albums did the band bad wolves produce?

    • @blarch2
      @blarch2 2 года назад

      I like how every once in a while you reach back into oldschool rock

  • @thekeshkesh
    @thekeshkesh 2 года назад +108

    I played this song for my grandmother who happened to be a black woman named Betty. She just chuckled and walked away.

  • @ultralyrics1
    @ultralyrics1 2 года назад +37

    Black Betty will always be a jammin' ass song

  • @cengizhansen6466
    @cengizhansen6466 2 года назад +32

    I know this song from Need for Speed Underground 2. That version covered by Spiderbait.

  • @jamesbodnarchuk3322
    @jamesbodnarchuk3322 2 года назад +15

    Remember this song from when I was a kid in the 70’s. Great song! Damn thing gone wild!

  • @richiedagger733
    @richiedagger733 2 года назад +31

    I knew a guy who thought the lyrics for black Betty went " oh black Betty, family lamb" and it's all i can think about any time I hear it.

    • @Captain-Palsy
      @Captain-Palsy 2 года назад +2

      That is hilarious 😂

    • @nategwinn9058
      @nategwinn9058 2 года назад +3

      Thanks a lot, now I’m going to think that!

    • @paradisepipeco
      @paradisepipeco 6 месяцев назад +1

      Every family should have a lamb, but not everyone can afford one. Some of us have to settle for a goat _(or a secondhand lizard)._

  • @deansmith6593
    @deansmith6593 2 года назад +27

    "Black Betty" was in Kung Pow: Enter the Fist in 2002 as well.

    • @daBEAGLE1017
      @daBEAGLE1017 2 года назад +5

      I am a great magician.....now your clothes are red. - Master Betty

    • @russc.9618
      @russc.9618 2 года назад

      @@daBEAGLE1017 “But isn’t Betty, a woman’s name?”

    • @daBEAGLE1017
      @daBEAGLE1017 2 года назад

      @@russc.9618 Just remember one thing from this conversation, "killing is badong"

  • @margaretreefer1145
    @margaretreefer1145 2 года назад +21

    I remember when some kid auditioned for Canadian Idol with that song. He made it on the show but it turns out that that was the only song he knew how to sing. As I recall, he didn't last very long. 😂

  • @amaccama3267
    @amaccama3267 2 года назад +34

    Australian band Spiderbait covered it a few years ago. Rippling version too.

    • @blowing_up
      @blowing_up 2 года назад +1

      Like 12 years ago…man, time flies

    • @Dunny69rBwfc
      @Dunny69rBwfc 2 года назад

      Yes mate agreed top version.

    • @opiumtrail7032
      @opiumtrail7032 10 месяцев назад

      Rippling?

    • @iamswop7
      @iamswop7 8 месяцев назад

      What’s crazy is Australia had a non white ban on the country around the time black poeple created the song

  • @SynIMPFML666
    @SynIMPFML666 2 года назад +6

    Black Betty had a child bambalam the damn thing gone wild bambalam

  • @TheGuyATX
    @TheGuyATX 2 года назад +24

    What drives me crazy about this song is when I hear it on the radio; they always play the short version, which cuts out about a minute and 20 seconds of the best rock and roll to ever exist. Why? Was 4 minutes too long of a song for radio when it was released? That must be it…oh wait, radio followed it up with AC/DC who just sit and repeat the same line for 5 minutes. Super annoying.

    • @lindyxyo4254
      @lindyxyo4254 2 года назад +3

      "Generic named radio station that claims to play ONLY THE BEST!"
      Proceedes to play Back in Black and the Final Countdown back to back followed up by another AC/DC tune, lol.

    • @jasfan8247
      @jasfan8247 2 года назад +3

      The edit gives it more punch for radio. Sometimes it works in favor. Long versions for parties🥂🚬

    • @TheGuyATX
      @TheGuyATX 2 года назад +2

      @@jasfan8247 AC/DC sure could use more punch for the radio then. All their songs could really be edited down to 30 seconds 😂

    • @steelerfreak1977
      @steelerfreak1977 2 года назад

      Fuuuuuuck off about the AC/DC bullshit. The biggest misconception in rock.

    • @TheGuyATX
      @TheGuyATX 2 года назад

      @@steelerfreak1977 lol. What misconception?

  • @leannaerickson9745
    @leannaerickson9745 23 дня назад

    I discovered the Ram Dam version a few years back and loved it immediately. Since I've picked up bits and pieces of the story of the song Black Betty, a satisfying little project. There's probably enough on this song for a doctoral thesis. Thank you for filling in gaps in the legend.🎶🎸🥁🕺

  • @phorestpsy216
    @phorestpsy216 2 года назад +9

    fun fact, Kurt discovered Leadbelly after reading an interview with William S. Burroughs where he said something along the lines of these younger musicians should just throw away their guitars away and listen to leadbelly"

  • @aretnap3653
    @aretnap3653 2 года назад +5

    "Damn Thing Gone Wild!"

  • @jackrotz2139
    @jackrotz2139 2 года назад +8

    My favorite version will always be
    Whoa! Black Betty
    AM BA LANCE !!!
    Whoa! Black Betty
    AM BA LANCE !!!

  • @paradisepipeco
    @paradisepipeco 6 месяцев назад +1

    The controversy is only among the uninformed. Anyone knowledgeable in traditional _("Trad")_ American music knows this tune is obviously an old 19th century _(or earlier)_ slave field chant. An interesting version, easily located, was recorded in the sixties by _"Koerner, Ray, & Glover."_

  • @AvnerRosenstein-ULTRA-LXV
    @AvnerRosenstein-ULTRA-LXV 8 месяцев назад +1

    There was a comment on the official black betty video which proclaimed "The singer looks like he has the ability to turn water into weed.". I Laughed so hard at it that I had to mention it here. Such a weird and strange song! The guitar the singer uses in this song was later tracked down because it has a very interesting history. If you look at the headstock....it looks like an Ibanez Headstock on a Gibson Les Paul. People were really confused by this guitar for years until it was found. The Singer modded that guitar heavily and the headstock broke in half. The Singer redid the headstock entirely and routed a different shape on it. The top face of the guitar body was custom glued with a different type of wood than it originally came with and painted. It's a really unique Gibson Les Paul.

  • @ronblack2700
    @ronblack2700 2 года назад +11

    This song is actually about moonshine! Back in the day in the south some folks used to call black Betty moonshine.

    • @carlslayton9337
      @carlslayton9337 2 года назад +2

      Interesting....I was always told it was about a firearm.

    • @Parallax-3D
      @Parallax-3D 7 месяцев назад

      I don’t think so.

    • @MeowZerz-vz5bs
      @MeowZerz-vz5bs 7 месяцев назад

      Moonshine can’t have children.

    • @paradisepipeco
      @paradisepipeco 6 месяцев назад +2

      The controversy is only among the uninformed. Anyone knowledgeable in traditional _("Trad")_ American music knows this tune is obviously an old 19th century _(or earlier)_ slave field chant. An interesting version, easily located, was recorded in the sixties by _"Koerner, Ray, & Glover."_

  • @ronaldowens5025
    @ronaldowens5025 2 года назад +9

    Ministry does one hell of a cover of this song also.

    • @sshza2143
      @sshza2143 2 года назад

      Ministry🤘🤪🤘🙋‍♂😁✌😎

  • @SterlingSMtr
    @SterlingSMtr Год назад +2

    It is a good song.

  • @jimmymetal713
    @jimmymetal713 2 года назад +1

    I knew this day was coming, but I thought it would have been raycons

  • @chroylikesfish
    @chroylikesfish 2 года назад +3

    Vid starts at 0:53

  • @russc.9618
    @russc.9618 2 года назад +2

    OF COURSE the naacp had a problem with it 🙄

  • @millerhxc
    @millerhxc 2 года назад +5

    I think I only discovered this song via the Spiderbait cover.

  • @historicalplayground
    @historicalplayground 2 года назад +4

    It wasn't named Where Did You Sleep Last Night. Lead Belly's song was named Black Girl. Later changed the lyric to "my girl" and then Nirvana happened.
    It does go back even further and In The Pines was also a name used.

    • @lastfirst3512
      @lastfirst3512 9 месяцев назад

      Youre on the wrong comment section bud

  • @thomasmccown2121
    @thomasmccown2121 2 года назад

    I've been listening to this song for years now and before all these movies and other things that this song was on!!!?? It's just another kick ass rock song from the 70's and I love it 😀 😍 🙌 👌!!!! Just saying Ya'll!!? God bless you all today 🙏 Shalom

  • @wellIdiditagain
    @wellIdiditagain Месяц назад

    Interesting fact by Bill Bartlett the singer from Ram Jam this song was credited to Ram Jam, but in actuality it was performed by a band he formed and was lead singer in just prior to Ram Jam called Starstruck.

  • @HolyShnikeez_1975
    @HolyShnikeez_1975 2 года назад +2

    Great vid R&RTS. Thanks ! 🤘

  • @howitusedtobe
    @howitusedtobe 2 года назад +3

    I know the bass player’s daughter! She lives a town over . Good friends with a former band mate of mine

    • @R-Lee-
      @R-Lee- 2 года назад +3

      Wow that's really cool man

  • @twistoffate4791
    @twistoffate4791 2 года назад +3

    I have never thought of Betty Page when listening to this song. But that's just me.

    • @paradisepipeco
      @paradisepipeco 6 месяцев назад

      The song has as much to do with Bettie Page as it does with Betty Rubble, Betty Crocker, Apple Brown Betty, or *"Mrs. Betty Bowers, America's Best Christian"* _(which is not at all)._

  • @Dadbro
    @Dadbro 2 года назад +11

    "Amba-lance" 🎵

    • @Shadow-RAM
      @Shadow-RAM 2 года назад +5

      Oh he's leaking! Call the amber lamps!

    • @daBEAGLE1017
      @daBEAGLE1017 2 года назад +3

      Someone call 9-1

    • @crazyralph6386
      @crazyralph6386 2 года назад

      Call…call….Ambalance lol

  • @keithshockley3443
    @keithshockley3443 Месяц назад

    I remember hearing this song in the underrated 2000s teenage mutant ninja turtles movie called tmnt 2007. It’s the scene where nightwatcher aka Ralph’s vigilante alter ego tries to catch a runaway monster from the brotherhood.

  • @DonnaFernstrom
    @DonnaFernstrom Год назад +3

    It seems odd to me that people are so confused by this song, when the biggest hint to the meaning is right there in the lyrics - if Black Betty had a child that has gone blind, then Black Betty is in fact whiskey, and this reference dates to the prohibition era when wood alcohol would sometimes be passed off as grain alcohol, or used to extend the volume of it. Wood alcohol is dangerously poisonous, and drinking it can cause blindness.
    Reading the lyrics again, no other interpretation even comes close to making sense, but that one fits all the way.

    • @Parallax-3D
      @Parallax-3D 7 месяцев назад +1

      No evidence of this.

  • @ArcherSuh4721
    @ArcherSuh4721 2 года назад +2

    Let's not forget in was also used on the soundtrack during the climactic fight scene in Kung Pow! Enter the Fist.

  • @TheAlexLamberty
    @TheAlexLamberty 2 года назад +4

    How is this song not about a woman? Black Betty had a child, damn thing gone blind/wild/whatever.

  • @alexprice4229
    @alexprice4229 Год назад +1

    I always thought it was about heroin

  • @alexbowman7582
    @alexbowman7582 11 месяцев назад +2

    Someone suggested it came from an army song about the Black Bess gun.

  • @jimunderwood77
    @jimunderwood77 2 года назад +7

    Lead Belly has one of the craziest life stories. Would make a good video

  • @sajidulhasan2027
    @sajidulhasan2027 2 года назад +2

    It was also in the CGI only TMNT film from maybe 10 12 years ago, though I don't think that's Ram Jam version. You forget a lot in 10-12 years

  • @thereviewbox1309
    @thereviewbox1309 2 года назад +2

    I have a kitty at home that I name Betty because of this song

  • @emperortrevornorton3119
    @emperortrevornorton3119 2 года назад +2

    My dad likes how the music video reminds him of some of the biker events he goes

  • @barrymurphy1337
    @barrymurphy1337 2 года назад +2

    It was about Bettie Page? Cool.

  • @farmonious420
    @farmonious420 2 года назад

    Amazing. This is one o my fav songs of all time.

  • @joesantos2455
    @joesantos2455 2 года назад +2

    Was "u know it gets me high" in the original? If so, then I'd say that it leans toward booze...although: when on the way 2 jail in a wagon - that's when everyone meets up, gets reacquainted, and tells war stories. I know that the experience of enslavement is vastly different, but was this aspect? Perhaps not.

  • @bangslamwham88
    @bangslamwham88 2 года назад +2

    James "Ironhead" Baker looks like a badass.

  • @jimmymetal713
    @jimmymetal713 2 года назад +1

    I always thought it was about heroin lol

  • @liannecomer3003
    @liannecomer3003 23 дня назад +1

    The radio station said that Black Betty was referring to a black slave that was repeatedly raped on sugar plantation by her master and his friends

  • @TroySwezey
    @TroySwezey 2 года назад +3

    I think Tom Jone's version is better.
    I always figured it was about a White guy who was with a Black girl who got pregnant. Black girl tries to say he was the father. "She must think I am blind" would refer to the fact the child looks nothing like him.
    My 2 cents.

  • @Yankee_rose12
    @Yankee_rose12 4 месяца назад

    actually the bassist ( David Goldfilies) played with the Allman Brother Band after Ram Jam was Disolve, he is still rockin and play in Florida.

  • @ignaciotorres8970
    @ignaciotorres8970 2 года назад +1

    I thought this song was about drugs

  • @thejapanarchocommunist
    @thejapanarchocommunist 2 года назад +9

    "I must apologize for Wimp Lo. He is an idiot. We have purposely trained him wrong as a joke"

    • @PirateR4ptor
      @PirateR4ptor 2 года назад +5

      'I am bleeding. Therefore making me the victor!'

    • @russc.9618
      @russc.9618 2 года назад +2

      “I see the way you look at him. I'm a man, too, you know? I go pee pee standing up.”

  • @beauzer36
    @beauzer36 2 года назад +10

    I thought Black Betties were pills. Amphetamines.

    • @the_original_Bilb_Ono
      @the_original_Bilb_Ono 2 года назад +3

      I never heard of prescription amphetamine drugs called "black betties". My dad use to talk about in the 70s they would get "bottle caps" that was an amphetamine.

    • @beauzer36
      @beauzer36 2 года назад +2

      @@the_original_Bilb_Ono well the term is obviously slang. It was very commonly used in the 60s and 70s.

    • @amberfashing1136
      @amberfashing1136 2 года назад +2

      I came here to say that, I thought it was about black Betty's ( 70s slang for uppers )

    • @-HighTide
      @-HighTide 2 года назад +8

      They were called "black beauties".

    • @beauzer36
      @beauzer36 2 года назад +3

      @@-HighTide yeah you're right

  • @PaulSmoker420
    @PaulSmoker420 2 года назад +1

    Black Betty was a cow (ram-a-lam). She's a hamburger now (ram-a-lam).

  • @allanvanuga9196
    @allanvanuga9196 2 года назад

    Great video.

  • @carloscruz5150
    @carloscruz5150 3 месяца назад

    Lead belly also sang THE HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN

  • @newtonkline5341
    @newtonkline5341 2 года назад +2

    I always thought it was about a black girl that was easy to hook up with and she blew your mind and your you know what you know what I mean hahaha yeah tonight

  • @XHellPriest
    @XHellPriest 2 года назад +2

    The song also appeared in Kung Fu: Enter the Fist.

  • @phoenixliger948
    @phoenixliger948 2 года назад +1

    First time I heard this song was when raphael fought the jersey devil

  • @BackWordsJane
    @BackWordsJane 4 месяца назад

    In the early 1800s it was slang for a bottle of whiskey

  • @lnvasionProject
    @lnvasionProject 2 года назад +2

    Yeah, it's kinda confusing *bam ba lam....*

  • @michaelphelan5626
    @michaelphelan5626 2 года назад

    are the 4 minute videos made specifically to get ads out?

  • @gdawwg1125
    @gdawwg1125 2 года назад +1

    The Dukes of hazzard version was by Australian band spiderbait

  • @snowdog03
    @snowdog03 2 года назад +1

    We all know what it's about. 😼

  • @cob2076
    @cob2076 2 года назад

    Spiderbait turned it into a song about a car in their music video

  • @ChainsGoldMask
    @ChainsGoldMask 2 года назад +10

    “The NAACP was mad at them because they were white guys that weren’t in prison and had their own freedom”
    Dude….I don’t where you read that but….😂

    • @ChainsGoldMask
      @ChainsGoldMask 2 года назад

      Is anyone proofreading this? 🤣🤣🤣

    • @SW-ii5gg
      @SW-ii5gg 3 дня назад

      That's experience speaking 🔊 facts about the times.

  • @morenaso1
    @morenaso1 6 месяцев назад

    At 1:00 is where the history starts

  • @repdale
    @repdale 2 года назад +3

    Could you guys please do an episode on Alan Wilson and Bob Hite from the band Canned Heat?

  • @sprontos
    @sprontos 2 года назад +1

    The world has been wondering.

  • @anastasiossavidis6322
    @anastasiossavidis6322 3 месяца назад

    is that a more recent photo of bill at "3:21"?

  • @R-Lee-
    @R-Lee- 2 года назад +1

    The boycott would not be futile today.

  • @ryanmcmillin5313
    @ryanmcmillin5313 Год назад

    Pastrana 199 used this song on Monsters on Main street in 2008

  • @n.rogers2273
    @n.rogers2273 2 года назад

    4 minute video, 1 of them being an ad

  • @ChainsGoldMask
    @ChainsGoldMask 2 года назад +2

    No disclaimer

  • @TheNothing6
    @TheNothing6 2 года назад +1

    Kung Pow: Enter The Fist

    • @deansmith6593
      @deansmith6593 2 года назад +1

      That is what always think of when I hear the song. Great movie.

    • @TheNothing6
      @TheNothing6 2 года назад

      @@deansmith6593 Right on, Dean! 🤣😂

  • @crazyralph6386
    @crazyralph6386 2 года назад

    Dude, that pic you showed of the guy wearing the Fedora was not Bill Bartlett from Ram Jam lol!!!

  • @johncable9238
    @johncable9238 Год назад

    how am i now finding your channel.

  • @davidbrothers3788
    @davidbrothers3788 2 года назад +2

    I always found this song to be very annoying fortunately its only two minutes long

  • @jamalsampson9389
    @jamalsampson9389 2 года назад +4

    I remember the cover of "Black Betty", but I just can't remember who sang the cover. Cool upload!

    • @tjm8128
      @tjm8128 2 года назад +1

      Maybe Spiderbait. They are an Aussie band and it was huge here.

    • @jamalsampson9389
      @jamalsampson9389 2 года назад +2

      @@tjm8128; Yeah, now I remember! They made that song ROCK. That was one great tune!

  • @chrispaquette7855
    @chrispaquette7855 2 года назад

    How many albums did the band "bad Wolves produce?

  • @troywilson4694
    @troywilson4694 2 года назад

    Hey did your new hires not work out or just not start yet? I got some new equipment if you need help again.

  • @iamswop7
    @iamswop7 8 месяцев назад

    They should sue for royalties just like dying did diddy

  • @ghostfires
    @ghostfires 2 года назад +1

    1 min ad on 4.5 min video

  • @boldtaa
    @boldtaa 2 года назад +3

    Jeez, a 1:20 intro for a 4:30 clip.

  • @andreatkinson4869
    @andreatkinson4869 2 года назад

    I think if it's confusing it's on you he remade a song

  • @Falkowski82
    @Falkowski82 2 года назад

    Do house of the rising sun video

  • @michelelaraia7358
    @michelelaraia7358 Год назад

    1000° like.🇮🇹

  • @cheesezeppelin2281
    @cheesezeppelin2281 2 года назад

    I fucking love lead belly

  • @dennismcdonald2607
    @dennismcdonald2607 2 года назад +2

    I LOATHE this song! 😂.

  • @Luchablay
    @Luchablay 2 года назад

    I know this song from the TMNT CG movie.

  • @RANDYJR72
    @RANDYJR72 2 года назад

    It was also used in Kung Pow

  • @Westw00do
    @Westw00do 2 года назад +2

    Start watching from 53 seconds, you'll thank me.

  • @acorazado27
    @acorazado27 2 года назад

    Spiderbait version of the songs was used for the soundtrack in the movie "Without a paddle" 2004 and The Sugar Land 95 are the 95 African-American individuals unearthed during a construction in Sugar Land, Texas, 30 miles southwest of Houston. Archaeologists found evidence that the 95 individuals belonged to the state of Texas' convict leasing system and were buried in the unmarked gravesite.

  • @TheAlexLamberty
    @TheAlexLamberty 2 года назад +1

    This video was 1/4 an ad for some stupid headphones. Good vid otherwise

  • @Wiggimus
    @Wiggimus 2 года назад +1

    I'm surprised that the version of "Black Betty" that was featured in Rayman Legends wasn't mentioned. That was a really fun level and a surprise combination of music and platforming.

  • @RPI79
    @RPI79 2 года назад

    This video felt very rushed. I think i prefer the other 'true rock n roll stories' channel.

    • @twistoffate4791
      @twistoffate4791 2 года назад +1

      I have never seen an ad before the actual subject matter starts. Bad time to look into this channel.

  • @ryanb9749
    @ryanb9749 2 года назад

    Ramjamoram.

  • @dannybursace9151
    @dannybursace9151 2 года назад +3

    Even back then the NCAAP wanted a piece of the pie! GTFOH...the best part of the song was the hi hat plus vocals ...lyrics could've been anything, that grove was awesome!

  • @daviduliana9950
    @daviduliana9950 2 года назад

    There were numerous groups with little talent in the 70's Ram Jam was the nadir of talent in Rock and Roll groups. They were five guys with absolutely no talent.

  • @mat2093
    @mat2093 Год назад

    My all time favorite ram jam song was turnpike

  • @afredheath
    @afredheath 6 месяцев назад

    Omg shut up about the headphones dude