“Black Betty”
Description
"Oh Lawd, Black Betty, bam-ba-lam (x2), Black Betty had a baby, bam-ba-lam (x2)." "Oh, Lawd, Black Betty... It de cap'n's baby." "Oh, Lawd, Black Betty... but she didn't feed the baby. "Oh Lawd, Black Betty... Black Betty, where'd you come from?"
Notes
According to the Lomaxes, "[Black Betty] is the whip that was and is used in some Southern prisons." - RBW
Recordings
- Mose "Clear Rock" Platt, "Black Betty" (AFS 2643 B2, 1939)
References
- Lomax-ABFS, pp. 60-61, "Black Betty" (1 text, 1 tune)
- DT, BLKBETTY*
- Roud #11668
- BI, LxA060