Lyrics > The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion – Black Betty (Advert)

Writers: Huddie Ledbetter
Published: Folkways Music Publishers, Inc.
From: Black Betty (7″, US)
Transcribed: Pop Catastrophe
Notes: These are the lyrics as they appear on the 30 second edit of the song used in the 2011 Volkswagen Superbowl Advert. The full length recording released on the split 7″ with the Melvins and on the No Reservations 7″ single. Although the earliest known recording of this song is by James Iron Head Baker the JSBX recording would appear to be a cover of the version made famous by Leadbelly (RELEASE / LYRICS) and the most well-known rock arrangement of the song is by Ram Jam (RELEASE / LYRICS). Writing credits for this song are sometimes given as ‘traditional’.

Afro

Afro (Mo' Width)

Bacon / Bacon (Sansano)

Bag of Bones

The Ballad of Joe Buck

Bellbottoms (Original Long Ending)

Blues Explosion Attack

Cold Cold Eyes (Demo)

Cold Cold Eyes (Live)

Confused

Confused (Zebra Ranch)

Cooking For Television

Don't Wanna Live Like The Dead (Short Version)

Don't Wanna Live Like The Dead (Long Version)

Do You Wanna Get Heavy?

Get Your Pants On (Daytrotter)

Get Your Pants On (KEXP)

Happy Birthday Elvis Presley

Heavy (Remix) / (Simulated Dummies)

Hey Mom

Inside The World Of The Blues Explosion

I Wanna Make It All Right

I Wanna Make It All Right (Zebra Ranch)

Jailhouse Blues

Kawasaki ZII750 Rock 'n' Roll

Leave Me Alone So I Can Rock Again

Like a Bat

Lost Someone

Love Ain't On The Run

Love All of Me

Lovin' Machine

Lovin' Machine (Automator)

Lovin' Up A Storm

Magical Colors

Magical Colors (31 Flavors)

Maureen

Memphis Soul Typecast

The Midnight Creep

The Midnight Creep (Live)

Money Rock 'N' Roll

More American Nightmare

Rattling (Live On Jonesy’s Jukebox)

Rattling (Radio)

Right Place Wrong Time

Rivals

R.L. Got Soul

Rob K / Rob K is President

Rocketship

Rocket USA

Rock Hard

Roosevelt Hotel Blues

Shake A Leg

Shake ‘em On Down (Edit)

Shakin' Rock 'N' Roll Tonight

She Said

She Said (Single Edit)

Tales of Old New York: The Rock Box

Talk About The Blues

T.A.T.B. (For The Saints and Sinners Remix)

Tell Me That You Love Me

Texas Blues

That's All Right

Then Again I Will

There Stands The Glass

There Won't Be Anymore

Try a Little Tenderness

Unknown Title #5 / KRCC

Welcome To Daytrotter

White Jesus Part I / II

Oh, Black Betty
Bama lam
Woah, Black Betty
Bama lam
Black Betty had a child
Bama lam
The damn thing go wild
Bama lam
She’s so rock steady
[She’s so rock steady]
Bama lam
[Bama lam]
She’s always ready
[She’s always ready]
Bama lam
[Bama lam]
Oh, Black Betty
[Oh, Black Betty]
Bama lam
[Bama lam]
Move Black Betty
[Black Betty]
b, b, b, b, bama lam
Black Betty
[Black Betty]
b, b, b, b, oh

Lyrics > The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion – Black Betty (Advert)

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion: