Black Betty- Leadbelly

Black betty lead belly

[@robertsorensen8767]

How could anyone give Leadbelly a thumbs down. His original version of Black Betty is as real as real can get. It has heart and it has soul. It resonates to the bone, the basic fabric of the Blues.

[@Toniherrscher]

its not the original version. the oldest known recorded version of this song is 6years older, and was recorded by prisoners: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpqmdomilJ5gg68

[@jah1138]

​@@Toniherrscher The song in some form certainly dates back decades before any recording, so neither this recording or the one you posted can lay any claim to originating Black Betty. Leadbelly's version, though, is quite different from the recording you posted, even the "black betty" verses are quite different. It's more a song than a work cadence. I think it's fair to call this "Leadbelly's original version", and possibly the original "song" form.

[@Toniherrscher]

@@jah1138 i did not say my link was the original version, i said earliest known recording. Also it depends where you draw the line. I'd say whoever knows this song from ramjam or spiderbait (which is probably most people under the age of 70) would argue that this version has nothing to do with the Black Betty they know. So my comment is still correct, i guess.

[@jah1138]

@@Toniherrscher I was making a proposal that one could legitimately call Leadbelly's version at least an original song, and quite possibly the first "song" incorporating the black betty cadence, even though he did not originate the cadence. You are free to disagree, but I'm not quite sure whether you are or not. We may be talking about two different things now.

[@robinwilson1433]

@@Toniherrscher Good to hear - thank you!

[@Home_Of_The_Lag]

I adore all music, and this is amazing. Listening for the first time. Born 98.

[@rbruce92]

First time for me too. Born 1959

[@rbwood1978ify]

Leadbelly made music for when you have to bury something you loved on a rainy summers day.

[@safavid]

I "woah'd" out loud. Beautiful visual.

[@rbwood1978ify]

fefer erfer thank you

[@missjem79]

Going to a funeral in the morning, that's why I'm listening to Leadbelly tonight.

[@raymondfink9580]

Couldn’t put it better

[@LAKEVILLEMA]

Hit me in the visceral feels.

[@juliehernandez80]

Wow, this is beautiful. These old recordings are both sad and a treasure.

[@Funnyanimals-ey7nm]

yeaah

[@campbelldoyon5755]

What makes it sad?

[@joshuacimaroon3692]

Yeah, What makes it sad ? 🤦🏾‍♂️🤷🏾‍♂️ is this a sjw thing??? Save your tears and buy a nigga a beer if you feel some type of way

[@juliehernandez80]

@@joshuacimaroon3692 stfu. Liberal sjw is your mother for not aborting you when she really wanted to.

[@joshuacimaroon3692]

@@juliehernandez80 wow lol godbless u bro. I needed that. A punk mf who is talking head over the net.🤷🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️🖕🏾

[@Libbydoh]

I found this guy 45 years ago and my taste in music was forever affected - masterpiece and master.

[@TheGraveyardDog]

This is possibly one of the most overlooked and under appreciated songs that became so extremely influential to rock and roll in the Sixties and Seventies. This is easily one of the more impressive tracks that ever came out and influenced so many great bands in the decades to come.

[@TheGraveyardDog]

@@tootyfruity69 In my experience, very few people have even the slightest idea who Leadbelly was. (Can’t exactly walk into Walmart and find one of his records). As for the influence, Leadbelly (among other blues greats) inspired and influenced a green many bands. This song alone inspired at least two covers, although the most recent one I thought was awful.

[@zz449944]

This song should be on the next NASA Golden Record sent into space.

[@JediMasterFO]

He's clapping to keep time. He was incarcerated in Texas when he recorded this. It went straight to the Library of Congress.

[@martingoldfire]

The wierd thing is when he claps, the 1 and then 3 at first. Later I had to count it out in 8/8 to find it on the 4, kinda threw me off there hehe. After checking again I think I might as well be right and wrong, depending on when I count :-P

[@jcbowes]

@@martingoldfire Noticed this too! He alternates 2 measures accenting the 1, 2 measures accenting the 3, and then when he gets to "black betty" he's hitting the 3&. Very cool

[@adriel1478]

Fantastic! Some real music enthusiasts in this comment section! Have a great day everyone!

[@glueforall]

@@martingoldfire changes it to the and of 3. No metric change...still in 4

[@specialed6357]

Wrong, 1930-1934 he was at angola the louisiana state penitentiary. He was in texas earlier. The very first recording ever of him was 1933.

[@platinumone1159]

Goodnight Irene, House of the Rising Sun, The Midnight Special, this man was a musical genius and one of the greats in the art.

[@zsong9600]

Music from the soul. No guitar, no drums no other instruments but his voice and his hands. Incredible.

[@freedomisntfree2089]

To put it simple, The man gave us everything and inspired everyone, Cash, Bill Monroe, CCR, Nirvana, Zeppelin, and without him there would have been nothing

[@cg391]

Ram jam

[@purromemes7395]

Music may have been invented by Asians, and perfected by Europeans… but Africans created music you could swing to

[@rebeljesus4220]

😆

[@rebeljesus4220]

@@purromemes7395 and according to leadbelly, stab people to.

[@marcofearg9956]

This arent original songs from him, at least, what I know is that the majority of his recordings were from all folk songs without an author, like most of classic blues songs

[@goatbut29]

Dayum! Just his voice incites you to move! Hits deep somewhere unknown, tickles the soul strings! God bless these pioneers!

[@Claythargic]

Leadbelly is one of my absolute favorite artists of all time. Such a huge influence.

[@Keleneki]

Me, too!

[@nickiemcnichols5397]

@@KelenekiI read somewhere that he was a huge influence on the Beatles.

[@sananton2821]

ok but he's not particularly skillful

[@HE122368]

this man recorded some great classics that were re-recorded before they became real big time hits, and made somebody else some big bucks!

[@peterngaru30]

so true

[@hurleymacmaster8262]

I had never heard the original until now. Melancholy mixed with a note of hope.

[@kevindimauro9689]

Try Ram Jam’s version.

[@simonjohnston8448]

Earlier version by James Baker. Success in 1974 when recorded by Starstruck, later re released under the name of Ram Jam Band

[@SethComedyFan]

Leadbelly is one of the greatest and most influential musicians of all time!

[@Shmokee91]

Im 16 I know absolutely nothing when it comes to blues But this lad is truly amazing inspired so many popular artists and never really got the credit for it

[@coppertopv365]

If you liked this, check out, "Where did you sleep last night" by both, Leadbelly & Nirvana.. That is a good song. O' brother where art thou soundtrack has some blues on it that is good as well. Steve Ray Vaughn, And BB KING.. If you are 16, an you found the Blues.. you have found a good genre that has got so many great songs. . By so many great artists like; Jimi Hendrix, Albert King, Freddie King, Buddy Guy, Bo Diddly, Elmore James, John Lee Hooker.. Otis Rush, Muddy Waters and So much more. & You can explore Chicago Blues, Delta Blues, dirty blues, electric blues, hokum Blues, Detroit blues, kansas City blues Louisiana blues Memphis blues New Orleans blues Piedmont blues st. Louis blues Swamp blues Texas blues West Coast blues.. So many kinds that make up one Genre known as the blues...

[@berachtdorian6191]

What do you mean "never really got credit for it"? Despite being far less skilled than musicians like Willie Dixon, Little Walter, Hubert Sumlin, or Lonnie Johnson he is now, and basically always has been, much better known than they ever were.

[@Colgan1]

He had a fantastic voice. I could listen to him all day

[@dinorockwell3196]

I remember back in the 14th century, this fellow Bloodbelly he use to sing a song called Bu -Bonic. Catchy little tune.

[@virginiasmith2982]

Love Leadbelly. My mum had albums of his music in the 1970’s that I listened to and were lost in the Ash Wednesday bushfires in Cockatoo in 1983. 😔

[@roberttipton6839]

I love listening to Leadbelly when I’m driving and want to stay mellow; he keeps it so simple but tells it like it is.

[@lesevans979]

Midnight Special had me when I 8 yrs old. Everything else was a plus. Considered first country superstar of Europe. If I'm wrong? Be light on me. In my life. I've had a hand full of white friends who even knew of him. And, no black friends that did. And, besides a great writer, singer, musician and performer. He understood that folks of his color would prefer to sign with him. And, he turned out to be a shrewd businessman.

[@carlparker9995]

Leadbelly was in my high school term theme. One of the inspiration s for rock and roll

[@dereksalgat9625]

15 seconds in and I get goosebumps. That’s how you know it’s a good song

[@sarnol8973]

maybe you just needed to turn the heat up

[@lycangold]

is he playing tennis while singing ? talent

[@giovannigb9881]

hahahhahahahahahaaaaaaa

[@brittwhitehead810]

HAHAHAHAHA!

[@timervin3267]

If you really dont know i would say he's a slave working (hammering rocks)

[@PotatoTomatoPotatoTomato]

Tim Ervin Why? Just why?

[@revsin1886]

Because its an old work song, the beat is where they would be digging or swinging a hammer..

[@kamikaze1352]

This man has an incredible story you should definitely read. He was as tough as they come and his music influenced quite a few famous names.

[@adolfryan1930]

He was a criminal and a murderer

[@kamikaze1352]

@@adolfryan1930 yes he was. I never said he was a good person. But he was talented

[@Heitorsexy]

@@adolfryan1930 so what lol

[@octofish]

A song, so old, it's origins are disputed and frankly, unknown. Passed down, according to legend from the civil war. "Black Betty" was a rifle. The pop group in the 70s added lyrics. Old Huddie had one of the first recordings of it. Greatness. Love me some Leadbelly.

[@Aron-ru5zk]

Can’t be from the civil war because black Betty/ Brown Bess were British muskets and would have been massively outdated during the civil war.

[@violetscreaming]

Always thought they were referring to the black Betty landmines

[@nathanrogers8713]

Like with Rising Sun, the origins aren't entirely known. Black betty is also the name often used for moonshine stills. Others have said it refers to a steam engine. The song was old when Leadbelly sang it.

[@FloridaMugwump]

I'm sure that the phrase Black Betty was applied by different people to many different black colored products over the years. That doesn't mean any particular use is related to the song. If someone found a reference to George Washington having a goat named Black Betty on his estate, it doesn't mean the song was named for the goat.

[@elpacho....9254]

Black Betty was a whip.

[@jameslangley6779]

Leadbelly a true legend and so inspiring bring back music back like this

[@coravisser3846]

I do have a lot of respect for these legend.Brilliant without much apparature.Himself voice guitar,Chapeau.

[@telam1744]

75% of all Rock and Roll HITS come from this guy.....

[@josh3003]

A lot of his were covers of folk songs

[@jonathanbgejensen1956]

@@josh3003 yes, but they still come from him either way

[@jurassicthunder]

not really

[@therealzilch]

This is the middle of the blues. Thank you, Leadbelly.

[@markelder4789]

That is some excellent music and it has soul and feeling

[@alexanderwilliamson7431]

That's some awesome blues guitar licks.

[@shakerattleandroll234]

The Spirit of Rock and Roll, in it's purest form

[@RhinoTheHamster400]

RIP Betty the Berserker

[@sd2sd87]

hey,she's still alive and well! I saw her walking down Van Nuys blvd late one evening wearing a pink and yellow chiffon dress with ballerina slippers from Sears...or wait,was that an apparition of a highway lady, you know..."Thanks for the ride,Lady, Thanks for the ride"...kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJqsnHRrgbCFnpI

[@azmike1956]

Berserkers live on!!

[@charliesangel7775]

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL JUST WORDS..HIS VOICE..A SIMPLE TAP..PRICELESS ❤

[@ryateo1]

I'm astounded to discover I know the words so nearly all of this man song. Covers of his music are so prevalent....🤯😎 I'm speechless.

[@elfcounsul]

So good, no theatrics, just good solid music.

[@ElmoMusica]

Blew my head up... I handn't heard this one. What a great song... Thanks for sharing.

[@wickedvideowatcher]

Oh my god, thank you for posting this! The exchange of music in the world today is wonderful! I got here by watching "Jamel aka Jamal" reacting to the remake by Ram Jam and reading this man's info in the comment section. Man, the internet is amazing when people are spreading love!

[@SpuddySpud]

That's what got me here too 😁. Didn't know it was a Leadbelly song

[@aliceduncan1513]

That's why I'm here too.

[@Llllltryytcc]

Same here that dude is awesome

[@Starlytte]

Preach! Spread the love of music !

[@kevinphillips4471]

Me too

[@paulagwhyte1720]

A sad lament that's been turned into an amazing rock n' roll gem. Never should the original be forgotten and why it exists. But the tribute, and amazing musicianship of Ram Jam has to be enjoyed as well and celebrated while remembering this.

[@AtyPical1313]

Sadly most will never know the origins of song was from a Prison song that Huddie William Ledbetter originally recorded. Alan Lomax recorded many of these songs that would have been lost in history.

[@scottearls7854]

@@AtyPical1313 song was from the cival war

[@AtyPical1313]

@@scottearls7854 And Thanks to Alan Lomax those songs were recorded. They were passed downed for generations,

[@kenhubar9934]

I just spent two hours listening to young black people listening to Ram Jams version for the first time .so we have old white guy listening to young black people listening to young white guys doing a old song with black roots.This is how the world should be 👍

[@paulagwhyte1720]

@@kenhubar9934 You got it, Ken!

[@GetLostGames1]

This man wrote the most amazing sounds I’ve ever heard

[@Fibonaccisghost]

Leadbelly is from my hometown, Shreveport Louisiana. Makes me proud.

[@MORGN]

no matter how many Black Betty covers I listen to, I always come back to the original

[@weray7605]

There is no original. Sorry. But try this cover from James "Iron Head" Baker from a few years before Ledbelly: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpqmdomilJ5gg68

[@MORGN]

@@weray7605 Oh I thought Leadbelly wrote it.. Thank you so much for the info!

[@Aron-ru5zk]

MORGN. It’s actually a old British army marching song about their muskets

[@weray7605]

@@Aron-ru5zk Holy Cow I didn't know that! Now I've learned something new, too. Thanks!

[@jasontiemann6536]

@@Aron-ru5zk ooops! A, not true. B, *an. C, still not true!

[@mikidomeny1677]

the energy of this song is so out of this world its proof itself

[@Bacopa68]

It long predates Leadbelly.

[@RodFleming-World]

What a wonderful man. Think of all the songs he collected which likely would have been forgotten. And precious little thanks he had.

[@John.Flower.Productions]

Wonderful man? His arrest/conviction record would seem to dispute that nonsense.

[@steelers6titles]

This is exactly how Southern chain gangs did their work songs, to make convict labor go easier, as borne out by period field recordings. Leadbelly, without his guitar, claps to keep the rhythm. The convict crews would have had, say, axes to fell timber, or split logs, or other tools, which they swung in rhythm. Leadbelly himself was, of course, a prisoner at one time.

[@lesharrington4174]

He was a prisoner repeatedly, and went through hell. Sang his way out of prison once by singing a song for the warden's wife!

[@specialed6357]

Ledbelly's version is slightly different from the chain gang's version. Many say Lead belly's version is from a 1700's military marching song. I looked quick on wikipedia, but it doesn't have any references of that. But Ledbelly's lyric of birmingham could be birmingham england. This is the chain gang version with link to the original recording that predates Ledbelly's... Oh black betty (x2) Black Betty where you come from (x2) Well I come from.....?... Well I'm going to Corsicana Black betty what's your number (x2) 750 (x2) Oh lord (lordy) black betty (x2) Black betty had a baby (x2) and the damn thing crazy ah, she dipped it's head in gravy (x2) Oh lord black betty (x2) Black betty where she (you) come from (x4) Oh lord (lordy) black betty (x2) Now (oh) the baby had blue eyes (x2) Well it must have been the captains (x2) Oh lordy black betty (x2) kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpqmdomilJ5gg68

[@steelers6titles]

@@specialed6357 It is interrelated, which is what makes ethnomusicology so fascinating. I think that the old British military marching tune made its way to America, and to the South, where it became a work song over time. "Black Betty" was originally a nickname for a firearm.

[@philgoodpaster3161]

@@specialed6357 Believing what you read on wikipedia is sketchy

[@biekgiek]

@@philgoodpaster3161 Indeed, but if you check on the references, it increases confidence in believing the information.

[@ldgolias]

This is awesome....love Leadbelly!

[@spudeleven5124]

What an amazing historical artifact. Humanity is fortunate that there were those who were committed to the recording of such artists; otherwise this would have been lost to the mists of time, and we would have been poorer as a consequence.

[@geraldmack3710]

As a Young Soldier in Germany I Found Mr Leadbelly at our Library on post . My Favorite song is Them Bowevils

[@briancannon3987]

It's amazing how many songs around today came from this dude

[@kurikokaleidoscope]

WONDERFUL ❣️ great to hear this thanks.

[@chauncygardiner9572]

God bless the old blues guys for inspiring the future blues rockers who gave us music that we could actually listen to.

[@tericarter2019]

❤❤wonderful sound quality for this to have been older in time.

[@jeffroland9921]

This isn't chain-gang music this just good old Southern folk blues music there's nothing any better in some of the Skynyrd songs I can hear Leadbelly coming through great music

[@TheGUERREIRO84]

BR here. American God's nice song final.

[@Martinmb4416]

I'm well over 60 now and I was brought up listening to Leadbelly (or Huddie Leadbetter to give him his full name) on my Dad's 78rpm records. You can't understand the blues unless you listen to Leadbelly and others of that era. Look up his life story...he was a bit of a rascal!

[@Reevesi]

The song now makes makes sense. Originals are always the best.

[@THEFITNESS411]

Always cool to see where some songs came from originally 🎸👍😎

[@domenicbarboza8381]

Yea, this is for sure amazing!

[@ddyritz]

Leadbelly did another recording of Black Betty. I hadn't heard this one

[@d3vilmaycry25]

I'm glad I found this OG version.

[@tinapearce4868]

Nice find Songs 1994, never heard this version. Great to hear original roots of songs.

[@ericstandefer9138]

So classic, notice where he places the beat of the hand claps, he always keeps them on the weak part of the beat.

[@NEMEPOLYNHA]

Eric Standefer No claps! it's the hammer going on the rocks...

[@kate18234]

Yes. I was trying, unsuccessfully, to join him in clapping.

[@castlehill6717]

William Walsh Assuming it is in 8/8 (4/4), the clap would be on every 6th beat. At least during the “black betty” ramp.

[@firstandlastswagman269]

Black Betty wow black betty

[@frankygroleau9579]

Eric Standefer what beat ? There’s not sound except his voice and the clap

[@ignaciodiaz4022]

Pure talent, pure music

[@frednugent2310]

What a legend. This man had an extremely hard life. He's a national treasure.

[@deniseleclerc8497]

What a great artist!!!

[@magaking]

I'm a drummer. Been one for 47 years, it's sad to know the young musicians of today don't know who Lead Belly is or even a lot of the old time black musicians of the past. Without them music of today would not be here

[@Dubtee]

Your username and profile Pic are like, very conflicting to your message. However, I completely agree with you and I'm not judging you.

[@magaking]

@Dubtee that flag represents all southern people, white, black and brown. There were many free blacks who fought for the south. So there is no prejudice there. Only what ignorant liberals have told you.

[@johnbean4615]

@@magaking tell me what we’re the confederates fighting for?

[@magaking]

@@johnbean4615 independence, simple as that.

[@duncanrodriguez2725]

I dunno bout that one cheif

[@jacquelinefox4492]

Every one should hear this rythm.

[@timelinemedia5189]

WOW love this

[@kurtzimmerman1637]

this is good. love the blues!

[@blossomgardner2297]

I heard this as a hit for rock band "Ram Jam" a while back... His influence is heard far and wide...

[@ahmedkhalid7241]

I had no idea black betty was a leadbelly song! Quite shocking really.

[@brandyalderson1552]

here cause of American Gods s02e02 Gran tema, reeditado en los 77 por Ran Jam, impresionante......

[@brahmabkitty03]

I like this version better than the remake

[@Blanche-ie5yy]

Curt Cobain best blues artist

[@C-130-Hercules]

Its so clean. I can see him.

[@gabriellehanks6850]

So this is where the Stones and other’s got they swag from🤷🏽‍♀️

[@Aron-ru5zk]

This is an old British army marching song about their muskets.

[@steviej-IRL]

I feel this song in my soul and put my own acoustic playing delta blues type sound that circles my mind......I know im crazy.

[@malodesi]

Thank You Internet, for making it possible for us all to see that!

[@BLu3RayDiskRang3]

This guy deserves much more credit than he has.

[@pvleoparda9443]

The inventor of all modern-day music. 🫡

[@PimpMyReel]

He wrote Black Betty in 1934 singing acapalla while clapping his hands. He wrote about what was around him and his life what is now nearly a hundred years ago at the start of the blues just like Robert Johnson 20 years before.

[@John.Flower.Productions]

He did not write this song and/or any other song, as far as is known. Where did you come up with that nonsense?

[@RobertLaberge]

Starting at 1:05 you'll recognize Ram Jam's hard rock classic "Black Betty".

[@H3xx99]

mark d Interesting considering Leadbelly's version is several decades older than Ram Jam's...

[@tysonrinker8089]

Hexx Bombastus no mark is right . Ram jam did the original. Why do you think everybody knows ram jam and nobody even knows this one? It's becasue ram jam did it first. Duh...

[@lennyschwarz6683]

@@tysonrinker8089 Wrong if ram jam wrote it in 1885, how did they sing it around 1980???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

[@castlehill6717]

Lenny Schwarz You all do know that you guys are getting trolled.... Right? I mean seriously.

[@daniel-ek9to]

@@H3xx99 woooosh

[@stevenallen-mb7sb]

Leadbelly was a genius

[@rootsAlkebu]

Thank you for sharing!💚

[@patrickwentz8413]

literally has not instruments besides his hands and produces music better music than 99 percent of the musicians today.

[@Doer231]

99 percent, eh? 🤔

[@danejurus69]

Oh please.

[@FJ80Coop]

Beats any rap crap hands down...

[@imhuner]

@@FJ80Coop crap rap

[@mojojoji5493]

Look at all the negative people down here

[@benjiporraz7418]

I just realized the beast of a guitar he played, It just looks nice,

[@GoogleGoogle-fd6do]

You cant hear the fucking guitar

[@benjiporraz7418]

@@GoogleGoogle-fd6do not the sound, just look at it, hear it in some of his other stuff

[@the2ndcoming135]

I often used to be criticized for why I listen to a lot of Rock. And, it doesn’t so much offend me because I got my crash course lessons via Hendrix and basically worked my way back and around to the contemporaries and offsprings of blues. So, I don’t so much defend why I enjoy rock music across the color lines. I just know there’s a deep reverence and respect for the old heads that kicked things off. Perhaps, a little better than those that don’t really like the genre the way I do.

[@narawhite7490]

Without him a lot of artist would have nothing .

[@scottturnock9616]

I never knew that this is this songs origin and now im sure I've heard this in some of todays films im definitely a fan of this version but im still a rock guy 🤘

[@shutupandmakemeasandwich6991]

Black music is like a popcorn kernel. When it pops it turns white.

[@inspectorluv]

lol, no doubt.....but old music. New stuff is safe

[@armchairradical2665]

Lol who knows maybe it'll be the same for hip/hop and rap. Imagine in 70 years the majority of fans will be 50+ year-old white guys who are constantly purchasing keyboards and drum pads on whims, in order to live out their fantasies of being producers

[@Aron-ru5zk]

This is a British army song about their muskets...

[@terrygafford6074]

".........Leadbelly ,......... made governor of southern prison farms.........." -----Andy Roberts (Liverpool Scene)1969

[@scmandell5882]

I got here after listening to Black Betty done a cappella by the convict James "Iron Head" Baker and a group at Central State Farm, Sugar Land, Texas (a State prison farm).In the comments there, they said Baker was 63 years old at the time of the recording in 1933. But also found in those comments was info that said that the song is much older than that even. It was a British Army marching song and refers to the muskets carried by British soldiers which was called the Black Betty because of it's black painted stock. (It's replacement had a brown oiled stock and was referred to as the Brown Bess). "Black Betty had a child, the child went wild" refers to the musket firing a ball which was not very accurate as rear firing lines often shot the forward lines by accident. Birmingham refers to Birmingham England where the muskets were made, not Alabama. There are many references to this in literature as far back as the early 1700s. Man, I love history! And I ain't even going to go factcheck this. It's just too good of a story.

[@scheisstag]

Luckily somebody else did :-D kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoOwcqNulserpLs Is it, that you do factchecking if you really like history? Or you do, if you like real history?

[@Terk131]

It’s amazing how many of his songs were covered by artists that had hits and made so much money off of them. I hope the family gets money for licensing. So many songs too.

[@53rdAndThird]

The first half of this video is a song called Looky Looky Yonder, then it cuts Black Betty off before its done!

[@specialed6357]

No, he clearly says "Last monday, baby I was arrested" at the end. This recording was originally three songs recorded together. Looky Looky Yonder, Black Betty, and Yellow Woman's Doorbells. What you hear at the end is the first line of the third song Yellow Women's Doorbells. So the full Black Betty song is here. There are at least 2 videos on youtube that has all three songs if you want to hear all three together. Here are the lyrics of the third song... Last Monday, baby I was arrested (Lawd, lawd, lawd) On Tuesday, I was locked up in jail (Lawd, lawd, lawd) On Wednesday, my trial was attested (Lawd, lawd) On Thursday, nobody's gonna call my bail, here's some more Almost done, here's some more Almost done, here's some more Almost done (lawd, lawd) And I ain't gonna, ain't done Y'all don't gimme no bail (Lawd, lawd, lawd, lawd) Last Monday, baby I went a-walkin' (Lawd, lawd) On Tuesday, I shot me a dog (Lawd, lawd, lawd) On Wednesday, we was sittin' down a-talkin' (Lawd, lawd) On Thursday, she pawned all of my clothes (Lawd, lawd, lawd)

[@crossroadsbandlu]

I must admit that i didn't know that it is a Leadbelly song. Great!!

[@knowur10sand18s]

It's not, he's just one of the earliest known recording.

[@ennerbuddy2956]

+Titto Rios besides John and Alan lomax

[@castlehill6717]

Its not

[@hmackie6823]

Led Belly didn't write all the songs he made them famous.when the Smithosonian Institute showed up at the prison to record him

[@kengle1]

Like many work cadences, the original author is in question. The oldest known recording is of James "Iron Head" Baker, recorded by the Lomax brothers. Look it up on here, it's American tradition and history

[@scrapplepig]

After reading many of these comments, Lead Belly didn't write this song it's a cover, same with almost all of Lead Belly's songs on youtube. It doesn't make him less important as his recordings help keep these songs alive and in the context of how they were originally sang.

[@TheGodsrighthandman]

Holy Cow!!! This is THE "Black Betty" done by Ram Jam in the 70s. The things you find when you dive down that rabbit hole . . . .

[@fouatialainmichel2850]

Here comes Betty for Odin

[@steelers6titles]

And the armed guards on horseback, watching the prisoners in the sun.

[@alluariligreenleaf2386]

Love it!

[@claesvanoldenphatt9972]

Love me sum Leadbelly.damn.