You do not have permission to edit this page, for the following reasons:

This IP address has been blocked from editing Wikipedia.
This does not affect your ability to read Wikipedia pages.
Most people who see this message have done nothing wrong. Some kinds of blocks restrict editing from specific service providers or telecom companies in response to recent abuse or vandalism, and can sometimes affect other users who are unrelated to that abuse. Review the information below for assistance if you do not believe that you have done anything wrong.

The IP address or range 35.175.0.0/16 has been blocked (disabled) by ‪JJMC89‬ for the following reason(s):

The IP address that you are currently using has been blocked because it is believed to be a web host provider or colocation provider. To prevent abuse, web hosts and colocation providers may be blocked from editing Wikipedia.
You will not be able to edit Wikipedia using a web host or colocation provider because it hides your IP address, much like a proxy or VPN.
We recommend that you attempt to use another connection to edit. For example, if you use a proxy or VPN to connect to the internet, turn it off when editing Wikipedia. If you edit using a mobile connection, try using a Wi-Fi connection, and vice versa. If you are using a corporate internet connection, switch to a different Wi-Fi network. If you have a Wikipedia account, please log in.
If you do not have any other way to edit Wikipedia, you will need to request an IP block exemption.

How to appeal if you are confident that your connection does not use a colocation provider's IP address:
If you are confident that you are not using a web host, you may appeal this block by adding the following text on your talk page: ((unblock|reason=Caught by a colocation web host block but this host or IP is not a web host. My IP address is _______. Place any further information here. ~~~~)). You must fill in the blank with your IP address for this block to be investigated. Your IP address can be determined here. Alternatively, if you wish to keep your IP address private you can use the unblock ticket request system. There are several reasons you might be editing using the IP address of a web host or colocation provider (such as if you are using VPN software or a business network); please use this method of appeal only if you think your IP address is in fact not a web host or colocation provider.

Administrators: The IP block exemption user right should only be applied to allow users to edit using web host in exceptional circumstances, and requests should usually be directed to the functionaries team via email. If you intend to give the IPBE user right, a CheckUser needs to take a look at the account. This can be requested most easily at SPI Quick Checkuser Requests. Unblocking an IP or IP range with this template is highly discouraged without at least contacting the blocking administrator.

This block will expire on 05:20, 2 March 2025.

Even when blocked, you will usually still be able to edit your user talk page, as well as email administrators and other editors.

For information on how to proceed, please read the FAQ for blocked users and the guideline on block appeals. The guide to appealing blocks may also be helpful.

Other useful links: Blocking policy · Help:I have been blocked
Your IP address is in a range that has been blocked on all Wikimedia Foundation wikis. The block was made by ‪Jon Kolbert‬. The reason given is Open proxy/Webhost: See the help page if you are affected .
- Start of block: 05:38, 21 February 2024
- Expiry of block: 05:38, 21 February 2029
Your current IP address is 35.175.116.192. The blocked range is 35.175.0.0/16. Please include all above details in any queries you make. If you believe you were blocked by mistake, you can find additional information and instructions in the No open proxies global policy. Otherwise, to discuss the block please post a request for review on Meta-Wiki. You could also send an email to the stewards VRT queue at stewards@wikimedia.org including all above details.

You can view and copy the source of this page:

((For|the barmaid|Tom King's Coffee House))
((Short description|20th-century African-American work song))
((More citations needed|date=July 2017))
((Use mdy dates|date=December 2021))
((Infobox song
| name     = Black Betty
| cover    = Lead Belly Negro Sinful Songs album cover 1939.jpg
| alt      =
| type     =
| artist   = [[Lead Belly]]
| album    = [[Negro Sinful Songs]]
| released = ((Start date|1939))
| recorded =
| studio   =
| venue    =
| genre    = [[Work song]]
| length   = ((Duration|m=1|s=55))
| label    = [[Musicraft Records|Musicraft]]
| writer   = Traditional
| producer =
))
"'''Black Betty'''" ([[Roud Folk Song Index|Roud 11668]]) is a 20th-century [[African-American]] [[work song]] often credited to [[Lead Belly|Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter]] as the author, though the earliest recordings are not by him. Some sources say it is one of Lead Belly's many adaptations of earlier folk material.<ref>Wolf, Charles and Kip Lornell (1992). ''The Life and Legend of Leadbelly''. [[HarperCollins]], NY.</ref>

There are numerous recorded versions, including [[a cappella]] and [[American folk music|folk]]. The song was eventually, with modified lyrics, remade as a [[Rock music|rock]] song by the American band [[Ram Jam]] in 1977. Subsequent recordings, including hits by [[Tom Jones (singer)|Tom Jones]] and [[Spiderbait]], retain the structure of this version.

==Meaning and origin==
The origin and meaning of the lyrics are subject to debate. Historically, the "Black Betty" of the title may refer to the [[nickname]] given to a number of objects: a bottle of whiskey, a whip, or a penitentiary transfer wagon.

[[David Hackett Fischer]], in his book ''[[Albion's Seed: Four British Folkways in America]]'' ([[Oxford University Press]], 1989), states that "Black Betty" was a common term for a bottle of [[whisky]] in the borderlands between northern England and southern Scotland; it later became a euphemism in the backcountry areas of the eastern United States. In January 1736, Benjamin Franklin published [[The Drinker's Dictionary]] in the ''[[Pennsylvania Gazette]]'' offering 228 round-about phrases for being drunk.  One of those phrases is "He's kiss'd black Betty."<ref>((cite book|author=Franklin, Benjamin |author2=William Temple Franklin|author3=William Duane|title=Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 2|publisher=Derby & Jackson|year=1859|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_SrIEAAAAYAAJ/page/n512 496]|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_SrIEAAAAYAAJ))</ref><ref>((cite web|url=http://www.historycarper.com/resources/twobf2/pg36-37.htm |title=The Writings of Benjamin Franklin, Volume II: Philadelphia, 1726 - 1757 -- Pennsylvania Gazette, 1736 - 1737 |access-date=January 1, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907064125/http://www.historycarper.com/resources/twobf2/pg36-37.htm |archive-date=September 7, 2008 ))</ref> Other sources give the meaning of "Black Betty" in the United States (from at least 1827) as a liquor bottle.<ref>Thorton, ''An American Glossary'', p. 66: "'''Black Betty'''. A spirit-bottle. Obs. The N.E.D. has Betty, 1725. They became enamored of blue ruin itself. The hug the ''"black Betty,"'' that contains it, to their bosoms.&mdash;''Mass. Spy'', Oct. 31 [1827]: from the ''Berkshire American''."</ref><ref>Collins, ''Historical Sketches of Kentucky'', p. 163: "Pretty late in the night some one would remind the company that the new couple must stand in need of some refreshment; Black Betty, which was the name of the bottle, was called for and sent up the ladder."</ref>

In ''Caldwells's Illustrated Combination Centennial Atlas of Washington Co. Pennsylvania of 1876'', a short section describes wedding ceremonies and marriage customs, including a wedding tradition where two young men from the bridegroom procession were challenged to run for a bottle of whiskey. This challenge was usually given when the bridegroom party was about a mile from the destination-home where the ceremony was to be had. Upon securing the prize, referred to as "Black Betty", the winner of the race would bring the bottle back to the bridegroom and his party. The whiskey was offered to the bridegroom first and then successively to each of the groom's friends.<ref>''Caldwells's Illustrated Combination Centennial Atlas of Washington Co. Pennsylvania of 1876'', p. 12.</ref>

John A. and Alan Lomax's 1934 book, ''American Ballads and Folk Songs'' describes the origins of "Black Betty":
((Quote|text="Black Betty is not another [[Frankie and Johnny (song)|Frankie]], nor yet a two-timing woman that a man can moan his blues about. She is the whip that was and is used in some Southern prisons. A convict on the [[Darrington State Farm]] in Texas, where, by the way, whipping has been practically discontinued, laughed at Black Betty and mimicked her conversation in the following song." (In the text, the music notation and lyrics follow.) |author=Lomax, John A. and Alan Lomax|source=''American Ballads and Folk Songs.'' (1934; reprint, New York: Dover, 1994), 60-1 ))

John Lomax also interviewed blues musician [[James "Iron Head" Baker and Moses "Clear Rock" Platt|James Baker]] (better known as "Iron Head") in 1934, almost one year after Iron Head performed the first known recorded performance of the song.<ref name="autogenerated1">((cite web|url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.afc.afc9999005.638/default.html |title=Black Betty / James (Iron Head) Baker [sound recording&#93;:Bibliographic Record Description: Performing Arts Encyclopedia, Library of Congress |publisher=Lcweb2.loc.gov |date=November 23, 2011 |access-date=March 25, 2014))</ref> In the resulting article for ''Musical Quarterly'', titled "'Sinful Songs' of the Southern Negro", Lomax again mentions the nickname of the bullwhip is "Black Betty".<ref>Lomax, John. "'Sinful Songs' of the Southern Negro", ''The Musical Quarterly'', Vol. 20, Issue 2. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1934) 177-87, quoted in William G. Roy, ''Reds, Whites, and Blues: Social Movements, Folk Music, and Race in the United States.'' (Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2010) 110-1.</ref> Steven Cornelius in his book, ''Music of the Civil War Era'', states in a section concerning folk music following the war's end that "prisoners sang of 'Black Betty', the driver's whip."<ref>Cornelius, Steven. ''Music of the Civil War Era.'' (Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2004) 216.</ref>

In an interview<ref>see ''The Land Where the Blues Began'', 1st Edition, [[Alan Lomax]], [[Pantheon Books]], 1993</ref> conducted by [[Alan Lomax]] with former Texas penal farm prisoner Doc "Big Head" Reese, Reese stated that the term "Black Betty" was used by prisoners to refer to the "[[Paddywagon|Black Maria]]" — the penitentiary transfer wagon.

Robert Vells, in ''Life Flows On in Endless Song: Folk Songs and American History'', writes:
((Quote|text=As late as the 1960s, the vehicle that carried men to prison was known as "Black Betty," though the same name may have also been used for the whip that so often was laid on the prisoners' backs, "bam-ba-lam."|author=Wells, Robert V.  |source=''Life Flows On in Endless Song: Folk Songs and American History.'' (Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, 2009) 156.))

In later versions, "Black Betty" was depicted as various vehicles, including a [[motorcycle]] and a [[hot rod]].

== Early recordings (1933–1939) ==

The song was first recorded in the field by US [[musicology|musicologists]] [[John Lomax|John]] and [[Alan Lomax]] in December 1933, performed [[a cappella]] by the convict [[James "Iron Head" Baker and Moses "Clear Rock" Platt|James "Iron Head" Baker]] and a group at [[Central Unit|Central State Farm]], [[Sugar Land]], [[Texas]] (a State prison farm).<ref>((cite web|author=Richie Unterberger|author-link=Richie Unterberger|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/deep-river-of-song-big-brazos-mw0000068690 |title=Deep River of Song: Big Brazos - Alan Lomax &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=July 26, 2016))</ref> Baker was 63 years old at the time of the recording.

The Lomaxes were recording for the [[Library of Congress]] and later field recordings in 1934, 1936, and 1939 also include versions of "Black Betty". A notated version was published in 1934 in the Lomaxes book ''American Ballads and Folk Songs''. It was recorded commercially in [[New York City|New York]] in April 1939 for the [[Musicraft Records]] label by [[Lead Belly]], as part of a medley with two other work songs: "[[Looky Looky Yonder]]" and "[[Yellow Woman's Doorbells]]". Musicraft issued the recording in 1939 as part of a 78-rpm five-disc album entitled ''Negro Sinful Songs sung by Lead Belly''.<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.document-records.com/fulldetails.asp?ProdID=DOCD-5226 |title=Leadbelly Vol 1 1939–1940 - Document Records Vintage Blues and Jazz |publisher=Document-records.com |date=June 15, 1940 |access-date=March 25, 2014))</ref> Lead Belly had a long association with the Lomaxes, and had himself served time in State prison farms. Lead Belly was first recorded by the Lomaxes in 1933 when he was approximately 44 years old. John Lomax helped Lead Belly get the recording contract with Musicraft in 1939.

==Post-1939==
While Lead Belly's 1939 recording was also performed a cappella (with hand claps in place of hammer blows), most subsequent versions added guitar accompaniment. These include [[folk music|folk]]-style recordings in 1964 by [[Odetta]] (as a medley with "Looky Yonder", with staccato guitar strums in place of hand claps), and [[Alan Lomax]] himself.<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/texas-folk-songs-mw0000765817 |title=Texas Folk Songs - Alan Lomax &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=July 26, 2016))</ref>

Singer [[Dave Ray]] of the folk-blues trio [[Koerner, Ray and Glover]] also recorded the song unaccompanied on their 1964 album ''[[Lots More Blues, Rags and Hollers]]''.

In 1968, [[Manfred Mann]] released a version of the song, arranged for a band, on their LP ''[[Mighty Garvey!]]'', with the title and lyrics changed to "Big Betty". In 1972, [[Manfred Mann's Earth Band]] performed "Black Betty" live for ''[[John Peel]]'s In Concert'' on the BBC,<ref>((cite web |url=http://www.platform-end.co.uk/html/overnight2.html |title=Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Not Quite Overnight Sensations (pt 2) |publisher=Platform-end.co.uk |access-date=March 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326014108/http://www.platform-end.co.uk/html/overnight2.html |archive-date=March 26, 2014 |url-status=dead ))</ref> this version was released in 2019 on the double CD / triple LP ''Radio Days Volume 4'', which also contains an earlier rendition from 1971 under the title "Big Betty". The same musical arrangement but with a new lyric and altered vocal melody appeared on the Earth Band's second album ''[[Glorified Magnified]]'' as "Look Around", credited solely to drummer [[Chris Slade]]. A studio version of "Big Betty" was recorded at the same sessions but remained unreleased until the ''40th Anniversary'' box set in 2011.

==Ram Jam version==
((Infobox song
| name       = Black Betty
| cover      = Black Betty Ram Jam.jpg
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Ram Jam]]
| album      = [[Ram Jam (album)|Ram Jam]]
| B-side     = I Should Have Known
| released   = ((Start date|1977|06))
| recorded   =
| studio     =
| venue      =
| genre      = ((hlist|[[Hard rock]]|[[blues rock]]|[[Dance-rock|disco-rock]]<ref name= "Breihan 2018">((cite web|first= Tom |last= Breihan |title= The Number Ones: The Lemon Pipers' 'Green Tambourine'|website= [[Stereogum]] |date= September 25, 2018 |url= https://www.stereogum.com/2020549/the-number-ones-the-lemon-pipers-green-tambourine/columns/the-number-ones/|quote= Starstruck then evolved into Ram Jam...Jerry Kasenetz and Jeff Katz reworked Starstruck's version of 'Black Betty' and turned it into an utterly badass disco-rock jam...|access-date= June 14, 2023))</ref>))
| length     =
* ((Duration|m=3|s=57)) (album version)
* ((Duration|m=2|s=32)) (single version)
| label      = [[Epic Records|Epic]]
| writer     =
* [[Traditional]]
* [[Lead Belly|Huddie Ledbetter]]
| producer   =
* [[Jerry Kasenetz]]
* [[Jeffry Katz]]
| next_title = Keep Your Hands on the Wheel
| next_year  = 1977
| misc       = ((external music video|type=single|((youtube|I_2D8Eo15wE|"Black Betty by Ram Jam"))))
))
Bill Bartlett had been in the [[Lemon Pipers]] and then formed a group called Starstruck. While in Starstruck, Bartlett took Lead Belly's 59-second long "Black Betty" and arranged, recorded and released it on the group's own TruckStar label. "Black Betty" became a regional hit. Producers [[Jerry Kasenetz]] and [[Jeffry Katz]] in New York formed a group around Bartlett called Ram Jam. They re-released the song, and it became a hit nationally. The Ram Jam version was actually the same one originally recorded by Starstruck (albeit significantly edited to rearrange the song structure). The song became an instant hit with listeners, and reached number 18 on the singles charts in the United States and achieved more success in the UK and Australia reaching the top ten.

Both the Ram Jam and the Spiderbait versions appear in the 2005 film ''[[The Dukes of Hazzard (film)|The Dukes of Hazzard]]'', with the Ram Jam version also appearing on the soundtrack album.

Figure skating world champion [[Javier Fernández (figure skater)|Javier Fernández]] performed his short program to Ram Jam's version of "Black Betty" during the 2014–15 season, when he won his third European Championships title and his first World Championships gold medal.<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00007684.htm|title=Biography|date=October 24, 2014|access-date=May 10, 2017|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024074722/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00007684.htm|archive-date=October 24, 2014))</ref> The level ''Castle Rock'' from the 2013 video game ''[[Rayman Legends]]'' is based on Ram Jam's version of "Black Betty".

The song was remixed by Dutch DJ [[Ben Liebrand]] in 1989 as Rough 'n' Ready Remix and became successful, reaching number 13 in the UK as well as charting in several other countries.

It appeared twice in the [[Family Guy (season 20)|season 20]] episode of ''[[Family Guy]]'', [[Family Guy (season 20)|<nowiki/>"Cootie & The Blowhard"]].

The song was used in the movie ''[[Kung Pow! Enter the Fist]]'', during a fight between the hero and a villain who called himself Master Betty.<ref>((YouTube|id=VqWL6GKUvFU|title=Kung pow black betty))</ref>

=== Formats and track listings ===
'''7-inch (1977)'''

# "Black Betty" – 2:32
# "I Should Have Known" – 4:45

'''7-inch (1989)'''

# "Black Betty" (Rough 'n' Ready Remix – Edit) – 3:12
# "Black Betty" (Original Version) – 3:56

'''12-inch (1989)'''

# "Black Betty" (Rough 'n' Ready Remix) – 5:28
# "Black Betty" (Original Version) – 3:56
# "Black Betty" (Rough 'n' Ready Remix – Edit) – 3:12

'''CD (1989)'''

# "Black Betty" (Rough 'n' Ready Remix – Edit) – 3:12
# "Black Betty" (Original Version) – 3:56
# "Black Betty" (Rough 'n' Ready Remix) – 5:28

'''CD (1989)'''

# "Black Betty" – 2:29
# "Let It All Out" – 4:00
# "High Steppin'" – 3:41
# "Hey Boogie Woman" – 3:09

'''12-inch (France, 1994)'''

# "Black Betty" (Rough 'n' Ready Remix) – 5:28
# "Black Betty" (Rough 'n' Ready Remix – Edit) – 3:12
# "Black Betty" (Version Courte) – 2:32
# "Black Betty" (Version Album) – 3:57
# "Black Betty" (Rough 'n' Ready Remix) – 5:28
# "Black Betty" (Rough 'n' Ready Remix – Edit) – 3:12
# "Black Betty" (Version Courte) – 2:32
# "Black Betty" (Version Album) – 3:57

'''CD (France, 1994)'''

# "Black Betty" (Rough 'n' Ready Remix) – 5:28
# "Black Betty" (Rough 'n' Ready Remix – Edit) – 3:12
# "Black Betty" (Version Courte) – 2:32
# "Black Betty" (Version Album) – 3:57

'''CD (France, 1994)'''

# "Black Betty" (Version Courte) – 2:32
# "Black Betty" (Version Album) – 3:57

===Charts===
((col-begin))
((col-2))

====Weekly charts====
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Chart (1977–1978)
!Peak<br />position
|-
!scope="row"|Australia ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref>((cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=246))</ref>
|3
|-
((singlechart|Austria|23|artist=Ram Jam|song=Black Betty|rowheader=true))
|-
((singlechart|Belgium (Flanders)|4|artist=Ram Jam|song=Black Betty|rowheader=true))
|-
((singlechart|Canadatopsingles|46|chartid=5401a|rowheader=true))
|-
!scope="row"|Europe ([[European Hot 100 Singles|Europarade Top 40]])<ref>((Cite web|title=The Europarade - 1976 to 1979|url=https://www.ukmix.org/forum/chart-discussion/chart-analysis/51702-the-europarade-1976-to-1979?q=black%20betty|access-date=September 2, 2020|website=UKMIX Forums|language=en))</ref>
|9
|-
!scope="row"|France ([[Institut français d'opinion publique|IFOP]])<ref name="Infodisc">((cite web |url=http://www.infodisc.fr/Tubes_Artistes_R.php |title=InfoDisc : Les Tubes de chaque artiste commençant par F|publisher=Infodisc.fr |access-date=September 1, 2020))</ref>
|25
|-
((singlechart|Germany|25|artist=Ram Jam|song=Black Betty|songid=17978|rowheader=true))
|-
((singlechart|Ireland2|8|song=Black Betty|access-date=November 18, 2018|rowheader=true))
|-
((singlechart|Dutch40|4|artist=Ram Jam|song=Black Betty|rowheader=true))
|-
((singlechart|Dutch100|6|artist=Ram Jam|song=Black Betty|rowheader=true))
|-
((singlechart|New Zealand|8|artist=Ram Jam|song=Black Betty|rowheader=true))
|-
((singlechart|Sweden|14|artist=Ram Jam|song=Black Betty|rowheader=true))
|-
((singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|7|artist=Ram Jam|rowheader=true))
|-
((singlechart|Billboardhot100|18|artist=Ram Jam|rowheader=true))
|-
!scope="row"|US ''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]]'' Top 100<ref>((cite web |url= http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/19770820.html|title=Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending August 20, 1977|work=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box magazine]]|access-date=September 1, 2020))</ref>
|14
|}
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Chart (1984)
!Peak<br />position
|-
!scope="row"|France ([[SNEP]])<ref name="Infodisc"/>
|27
|}
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Chart (1990)<br/>([[Ben Liebrand]] Remix)
!Peak<br />position
|-
!scope="row"|Australia ([[ARIA]])<ref>((Cite web|last=Grant|title=Every ARIA Top 100 Single in 1990|url=https://www.top100singles.net/2011/10/every-aria-top-100-single-in-1990.html|access-date=September 1, 2020))</ref>
|17
|-
!scope="row"|Europe ([[European Hot 100 Singles]])<ref>((cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-03-17.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=7|issue=11|page=IV|date=March 17, 1990|access-date=September 2, 2020))</ref>
|23
|-
((singlechart|Germany|28|artist=Ram Jam|song=Black Betty [Remix]|songid=158253|rowheader=true|refname=DU1990))
|-
((singlechart|Ireland2|2|song=Black Betty|rowheader=true|refname=IE1990))
|-
((singlechart|New Zealand|7|artist=Ram Jam|song=Black Betty [Remix]|rowheader=true|refname=NZ1990))
|-
((singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|13|artist=Ram Jam|rowheader=true))
|-
((singlechart|Billboarddanceclubplay|13|artist=Ram Jam|rowheader=true))
|}
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Chart (1994)
!Peak<br />position
|-
!scope="row"|Europe ([[European Hot 100 Singles]])<ref>((cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-08-27.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=11|issue=35|page=14|date=August 27, 1994|access-date=September 2, 2020))</ref>
|22
|-
!scope="row"|France ([[SNEP]])<ref name="Infodisc"/>
|2
|}
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Chart (2007)
!Peak<br />position
|-
!scope="row"|[[UK Singles]] (Official Charts Company)<ref>((Cite web|title=Chart Log UK: The Rabble Army – RZA|url=https://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_R.HTM|access-date=September 1, 2020|website=www.zobbel.de))</ref>
|188
|}
((col-2))

====Year-end charts====
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Chart (1977)
!Rank
|-
!scope="row"|New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)<ref>((cite web|url=http://nztop40.co.nz/chart/?chart=3866 |title=Top Selling Singles of 1977 &#124; The Official New Zealand Music Chart |website=Nztop40.co.nz |date=December 31, 1977 |access-date=July 26, 2016))</ref>
|34
|-
!scope="row"|UK Singles<ref>((Cite web|title=Top 100 1977 - UK Music Charts|url=http://www.uk-charts.top-source.info/top-100-1977.shtml|access-date=September 2, 2020|website=www.uk-charts.top-source.info))</ref> 
|56
|-
!scope="row"|US ''Cash Box'' Top 100<ref>((cite web |url=http://www.tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/1977YESP.html |title=Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1977 |website=tropicalglen.com |access-date=February 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812214150/http://www.tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/1977YESP.html |archive-date=August 12, 2017 |url-status=dead ))</ref>
|63
|}
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Chart (1978)
!Rank
|-
!scope="row"|Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref>((cite web|url=https://i.imgur.com/0gmvDHH.jpg|title=Kent Music Report No 236 – 1 January 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1978|publisher=[[Kent Music Report]]|via=Imgur.com|access-date=8 January 2022))</ref><ref>((Cite web|title=AMR Top Singles of 1978|url=https://www.top100singles.net/2011/05/amr-top-singles-of-1978.html|access-date=September 2, 2020|website=www.top100singles.net))</ref> 
|31
|-
!scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1978|title=Jaaroverzichten 1978|publisher=Ultratop|access-date=September 2, 2020))</ref>
|31
|-
!scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1978|title=Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1978|website=www.top40.nl|access-date=September 2, 2020))</ref>
|37
|-
!scope="row"|Netherlands (Single Top 100)<ref>((cite web|url= https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1978&cat=s|title=Jaaroverzichten - Single 1978|website=www.dutchcharts.nl|access-date=September 2, 2020))</ref>
|34
|}
((col-end))

===Certifications===
((Certification Table Top))
((Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|artist=Ram Jam|title=Black Betty|award=Gold|relyear=1977|certyear=1978|access-date=September 26, 2019))
((Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=ringtone|artist=Ram Jam|title=Black Betty|award=Gold|relyear=1977|certyear=2007|note=Ringtone|refname=CAN2|accessdate=28 April 2022))
((Certification Table Entry|region=France|type=single|artist=Ram Jam|title=Black Betty|relyear=1977|certyear=1977|award=Gold|source=infodisc))
((Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Ram Jam|title=Black Betty|award=Platinum|relyear=2004|certyear=2021|id=924-560-1|access-date=December 15, 2021))
((Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true))

==Spiderbait version==
((Infobox song
| name       = Black Betty
| cover      = Black_Betty_by_Spiderbait.png
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Spiderbait]]
| album      = [[Tonight Alright]]
| B-side     =
* "The Dog"
* "In This City"
| released   = ((start date|2004|03|15))
| recorded   =
| studio     =
| venue      =
| length     = ((Duration|m=3|s=26))
| label      = [[Universal Music Australia]]
| writer     =
* Traditional
* [[Huddie Ledbetter]]
| producer   = [[Sylvia Massy]]
| prev_title = Arse Huggin' Pants" / "Bo Bo
| prev_year  = 2002
| next_title = [[Fucken Awesome]]
| next_year  = 2004
))
In 2004, Australian alternative rock band [[Spiderbait]] released a version of "Black Betty" as the lead single from their sixth studio album, ''[[Tonight Alright]]'', on March 15. Produced by [[Sylvia Massy]], this version is a slightly faster re-working of Ram Jam's hard rock arrangement. The song was a hit in Australia, reaching number one on the [[ARIA Singles Chart]] in May 2004 to become Spiderbait's first number-one single in their home country. The song was released as Spiderbait's debut single in the United States on October 18, 2004, reaching number 32 on [[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']]'s [[Mainstream Rock (chart)|Mainstream Rock Tracks]] chart in November of the same year. The song was included on the soundtrack of [[Need for Speed: Underground 2|''Need for Speed: Underground 2'']].<ref>((Cite web |title=Need For Speed: Underground 2 Soundtrack by Need for Speed |url=https://genius.com/albums/Need-for-speed/Need-for-speed-underground-2-soundtrack |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=Genius.com |language=en))</ref>

At the [[ARIA Music Awards of 2004]], the song was nominated for [[ARIA Award for Highest Selling Single|Highest Selling Single]] and [[ARIA Award for Best Video|Best Video]].<ref name="Video">ARIA Award previous winners. ((cite web|url=https://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/award/Best-Video?view=list|title=Winners by Award – Artisan Awards – Best Video |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA)|access-date= 12 December 2019 ))</ref> Despite the song's success, Spiderbait's drummer, [[Kram (musician)|Kram]], has considered their version of "Black Betty" a "fluke", as he wanted to perform three drum solos on the recording but was outvoted by the other band members.<ref>((cite magazine|title='Fluke' Cover Takes Spiderbait to No. 1|last=Eliezer|first=Christie|editor-last=Williamson|editor-first=Nigel|editor-link=Nigel Williamson|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|volume=116|issue=24|page=53|date=June 12, 2004))</ref>

===Track listing===
((Track listing
| headline = Australian CD single (9816416)<ref>((cite AV media notes|title=Black Betty|others=[[Spiderbait]]|year=2004|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=[[Universal Music Australia]]|id=9816416))</ref>
| title1  = Black Betty
| note1  = edit
| title2  = Black Betty
| note2   = extended version
| title3  = The Dog
| title4  = In This City
))

===Charts===
((col-begin|width=74%))
((col-2))

====Weekly charts====
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Chart (2004)
!Peak<br />position
|-
((single chart|Australia|1|artist=Spiderbait|song=Black Betty|rowheader=true|access-date=October 14, 2019|refname="ARIA"))
|-
!scope="row"|US [[Mainstream Rock (chart)|Mainstream Rock]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>((Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/280152/spiderbait/chart|title=Spiderbait Chart History (Mainstream Rock Songs)|magazine=Billboard|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013073007/http://www.billboard.com/artist/280152/spiderbait/chart|archive-date=October 13, 2014|access-date=March 4, 2023))</ref>
|32
|}

====Year end charts====
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Chart (2004)
!Position
|-
!scope="row"|Australia (ARIA)<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2004/singles-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2004|publisher=ARIA|access-date=October 14, 2019))</ref>
|3
|-
!scope="row"|Australian Artists (ARIA)<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2004/australian-artist-singles-chart|title=ARIA Top 20 Australian Singles for 2004|publisher=ARIA|access-date=December 5, 2022))</ref>
|2
|}
((col-2))

====Decade-end charts====
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Chart (2000–2009)
!Position
|-
!scope="row"|Australia (ARIA)<ref name="ARIA end of Decade">((cite web|url=https://www.ariacharts.com.au/annual-charts/2009/end-of-decade-singles-chart|title=2009 ARIA End of Decade Singles Chart|publisher=ARIA|date=January 2010|access-date=January 16, 2020))</ref>
|51
|-
!scope="row"|Australian Artists (ARIA)<ref name="ARIA end of Decade"/>
|9
|}
((col-end))

===Certifications===
((Certification Table Top))
((Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1994|certyear=2004|access-date=December 6, 2017|refname=cert))
((Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true))

===Release history===
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
!scope="col"|Region
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Format(s)
!scope="col"|Label(s)
!scope="col"|((abbr|Ref.|Reference))
|-
!scope="row"|Australia
|((start date|2004|03|15))
|CD
|[[Universal Music Australia]]
|<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/ISSUE733.pdf|title=The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 15th March 2004|publisher=ARIA|page=27|date=March 15, 2004|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20040406140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20040407-0000/ISSUE733.pdf|archive-date=April 6, 2004|access-date=May 2, 2021))((cbignore|bot=medic))</ref>
|-
!scope="row"|United Kingdom
|((start date|2004|8|16))
|((hlist|7-inch vinyl|CD))
|[[Universal Records (1995−2006)|Universal]]
|<ref>((cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=29|date=August 14, 2004))</ref>
|-
!scope="row"|United States
|((start date|2004|10|18))
|((hlist|[[Mainstream rock]]|[[Active rock|active rock radio]]))
|[[Interscope Records|Interscope]]
|<ref>((cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2004/RR-2004-10-15.pdf|title=Going for Adds|magazine=[[Radio & Records]]|issue=1577|page=17|date=October 15, 2004|access-date=May 2, 2021))</ref>
|}

== UNH controversy ==
In 2006, the [[University of New Hampshire]] administration controversially banned the playing of Ram Jam's "Black Betty" at UNH [[ice hockey|hockey]] games. UNH Athletic Director Marty Scarano explained the reason for the decision: "UNH is not going to stand for something that insults any segment of society".<ref>((cite web |last=Melamed |first=Kristen |title=This "Betty" won't play anymore |url=http://www.tnhonline.com/media/storage/paper674/news/2006/01/24/News/This-betty.Wont.Play.Anymore-1502180.shtml |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912101102/http://www.tnhonline.com/media/storage/paper674/news/2006/01/24/News/This-betty.Wont.Play.Anymore-1502180.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 12, 2012 |format=web reprint |access-date=March 19, 2008))</ref> In 2006 UNH students started the "Save Black Betty" campaign. Students protested at the hockey games by singing Ram Jam's "Black Betty", wearing T-shirts with writing on the front "Save Black Betty" and writing on the back "Bam-A-Lam", and holding up campaign posters at the game. The Ram Jam version was again played once at a UNH–UMaine hockey game on January 24, 2013, after a seven-year hiatus.

==Selected list of recorded versions==
* 1933 [[James "Iron Head" Baker and Moses "Clear Rock" Platt|James Baker (AKA Iron Head)]] and group<ref name="autogenerated1"/>
* 1939 [[James "Iron Head" Baker and Moses "Clear Rock" Platt|Mose Platt (AKA Clear Rock)]]<ref>((cite web|url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.afc.afc9999005.8350/default.html |title=Black Betty / Mose (Clear Rock) Platt [sound recording&#93;:Bibliographic Record Description: Performing Arts Encyclopedia, Library of Congress |publisher=Lcweb2.loc.gov |date=November 23, 2011 |access-date=March 25, 2014))</ref>
* 1939 [[Huddie Ledbetter|Huddie Ledbetter (AKA Lead Belly)]], originally on the 78rpm album ''Negro Sinful Songs''
* 1964 [[Odetta]], as "Looky Yonder" on the album ''[[Odetta Sings of Many Things]]''
* 1964 [[Alan Lomax]], ''Texas Folk Songs'' album<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/texas-folk-songs-mw0000765817 |title=Texas Folk Songs - Alan Lomax &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=July 18, 2017))</ref>
* 1968 [[Manfred Mann]], as "Big Betty" on the ''Mighty Garvey!'' album<ref>((cite web|author=Rob Flanagan |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/mighty-garvey%21-mw0000466005 |title=Mighty Garvey! - Manfred Mann &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=July 18, 2017))</ref>
* 1986 [[Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds]] on the album ''[[Kicking Against the Pricks]]''
* 2002 [[Tom Jones (singer)|Tom Jones]] UK #50 single, also on the UK #36 album ''[[Mr. Jones (Tom Jones album)|Mr. Tom Jones]]''
* 2007 [[Larkin Poe]] on the live album ''Jam in the Van''

==See also==
* [[Roud Folk Song Index]]
* [[List of one-hit wonders in the United States#1970s|List of 1970s one-hit wonders in the United States]]

==References==
((Reflist|colwidth=30em))

==Bibliography==
* Collins, Lewis. ''Historical Sketches of Kentucky''. Cincinnati: James & Co. (1848).
* Thornton, Richard H. (ed.). ''An American Glossary''. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company (1912).

==External links==
* ((AllMusic|class=song|id=t198816))
* [http://www.secondhandsongs.com/song/4618 SecondHandSongs]: List of cover versions

((Lead Belly))
((Tom Jones))
((Spiderbait))
((Authority control))

[[Category:Year of song unknown]]
[[Category:1977 singles]]
[[Category:2001 singles]]
[[Category:2004 singles]]
[[Category:American folk songs]]
[[Category:Epic Records singles]]
[[Category:Interscope Records singles]]
[[Category:Lead Belly songs]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Australia]]
[[Category:Obscenity controversies in music]]
[[Category:Ram Jam songs]]
[[Category:Spiderbait songs]]
[[Category:Universal Music Australia singles]]

Pages transcluded onto the current version of this page (help):

Black Betty (edit)
Template:!) (view source) (protected)
Template:(! (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Abbr (view source) (protected)
Template:AllMusic (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Ambox (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Authority control (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Blockquote (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Blockquote/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Both (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Cbignore (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Certification Cite/Title (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Certification Cite/URL (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Certification Cite/archivedate (view source) (extended confirmed protected)
Template:Certification Cite/archiveurl (view source) (extended confirmed protected)
Template:Certification Cite Ref (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Certification Table Bottom (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Certification Table Entry (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Certification Table Entry/Foot (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Certification Table Entry/Foot/helper (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Certification Table Entry/Region (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Certification Table Entry/Sales (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Certification Table Entry/Sales/FrenchPeriod (view source) (semi-protected)
Template:Certification Table Top (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Cite AV media notes (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Cite book (view source) (protected)
Template:Cite certification (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Cite magazine (view source) (protected)
Template:Cite web (view source) (protected)
Template:Col-2 (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Col-begin (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Col-begin/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Col-break (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Col-end (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Comma separated entries (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:DMCA (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Dated maintenance category (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Dated maintenance category (articles) (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Delink (view source) (protected)
Template:Double-dagger (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Duration (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:External music video (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:FULLROOTPAGENAME (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Find sources mainspace (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:For (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Hlist (view source) (protected)
Template:Hlist/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Template:If empty (view source) (protected)
Template:Infobox (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Infobox album/color (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Infobox musical artist/hCard class (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Infobox song (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Infobox song/color (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Infobox song/link (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Lead Belly (edit)
Template:MONTHNAME (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:MONTHNUMBER (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Main other (view source) (protected)
Template:More citations needed (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Navbox musical artist (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Navbox musical artist/color (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Nbsp (view source) (protected)
Template:Ns has subpages (view source) (protected)
Template:PAGENAMEBASE (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Pagetype (view source) (protected)
Template:Plainlist/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Template:Quote (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Reflist (view source) (protected)
Template:Reflist/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Template:Replace (view source) (protected)
Template:SDcat (view source) (protected)
Template:Short description (view source) (protected)
Template:Short description/lowercasecheck (view source) (protected)
Template:Single chart (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Single chart/chartnote (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Singlechart (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Spaces (view source) (protected)
Template:Spiderbait (edit)
Template:Start date (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Str letter (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Template other (view source) (protected)
Template:Tom Jones (edit)
Template:Track listing (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Trim (view source) (protected)
Template:Use mdy dates (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:YouTube (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Youtube (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Arguments (view source) (protected)
Module:Authority control (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Authority control/config (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Category handler (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/blacklist (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/data (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/shared (view source) (protected)
Module:Check for unknown parameters (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1 (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/COinS (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Date validation (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Identifiers (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Whitelist (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Delink (view source) (protected)
Module:Disambiguation/templates (view source) (protected)
Module:Duration (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:EditAtWikidata (view source) (protected)
Module:Find sources (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources/config (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources/links (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources/templates/Find sources mainspace (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:For (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Format link (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:GetParameters (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Hatnote (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Hatnote/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Hatnote list (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Hms (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:If empty (view source) (protected)
Module:Infobox (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Infobox/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:InfoboxImage (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Is infobox in lead (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:List (view source) (protected)
Module:Message box (view source) (protected)
Module:Message box/ambox.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Message box/configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Namespace detect/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Namespace detect/data (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar/configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbox (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Navbox/configuration (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Navbox/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Ns has subpages (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/disambiguation (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/setindex (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/softredirect (view source) (protected)
Module:SDcat (view source) (protected)
Module:Separated entries (view source) (protected)
Module:String (view source) (protected)
Module:String2 (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:TableTools (view source) (protected)
Module:Track listing (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Track listing/configuration (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Track listing/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Unsubst (view source) (protected)
Module:Unsubst-infobox (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:WLink (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Wikitext Parsing (view source) (protected)
Module:Yesno (view source) (protected)

Return to Black Betty.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Betty"