Black Betty

by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

From the album: B-Sides & Rarities

Track 8 of 56 on B-Sides & Rarities (2005).

Duration: 2:33

B-Sides & Rarities cover art

Lyrics for Black Betty

Look-a look-a yonder Look-a look-a yonder Look-a look-a yonder Well the sun done gone The captain can't hold her The captain can't hold her The captain can't hold her The way I do now Ada got a gold mine Ada got a gold mine Ada got a gold mine Way above her knees The shiv is golden The shiv is golden The shiv is golden Above her knees Look-a look-a yonder Look-a look-a yonder Look-a look-a yonder Well the sun done gone Wohoh, Black Betty, bam-e-lam Wohoh, Black Betty, bam-e-lam Black Betty had a baby, bam-e-lam Black Betty had a baby, bam-e-lam Damn thing was crazy, bam-e-lam Damn thing was crazy, bam-e-lam Wohoh, Black Betty, bam-e-lam Wohoh, Black Betty, bam-e-lam Oh, Betty Black Betty, bam-e-lam Oh, Betty Black Betty, bam-e-lam Black Betty had a baby, bam-e-lam Black Betty had a baby, bam-e-lam Damn thing was crazy, bam-e-lam Damn thing was crazy, bam-e-lam Black Betty didn't mind, bam-e-lam Black Betty didn't mind, bam-e-lam Damn thing was blind, bam-e-lam Damn thing was blind, bam-e-lam Wohoh, Black Betty, bam-e-lam Wohoh, Black Betty, bam-e-lam Black Betty, Black Betty, bam-e-lam Black Betty, Black Betty, bam-e-lam Jump steady Black Betty, bam-e-lam Jump steady Black Betty, bam-e-lam That Monday, I was arrested Tuesday, I locked up in jail Wednesday baby, my trial's tested On Thursday, nobody could blow my bail Yes, I'm almost done Yes, I'm almost done Yes, I'm almost done And I ain't gonna yell against no bells On Monday, baby I went a-walking Tuesday, I ... asked to go On Wednesday I sat down a-talking On Thursday she hock all a my clothes Yes, I'm almost done Yes, I'm almost done Yes, I'm almost done And I ain't gonna ... no more

Listen On

More from B-Sides & Rarities

  1. Deanna
  2. The Mercy Seat
  3. City of Refuge
  4. The Moon Is in the Gutter
  5. The Six Strings That Drew Blood
  6. Rye Whiskey
  7. Running Scared
  8. Black Betty
  9. Scum
  10. The Girl at the Bottom of My Glass
  11. The Train Song
  12. Cocks ’n’ Asses
  13. Blue Bird
  14. Helpless
  15. God’s Hotel
  16. (I’ll Love You) Till the End of the World
  17. Cassiel’s Song
  18. Tower of Song
  19. What Can I Give You?
  20. What a Wonderful World
  21. Rainy Night in Soho
  22. Lucy (version #2)
  23. Jack the Ripper
  24. Sail Away
  25. There’s No Night Out in the Jail
  26. That’s What Jazz Is to Me
  27. The Willow Garden
  28. The Ballad of Robert Moore and Betty Coltrane
  29. King Kong Kitchee Kitchee Ki-Mi-O
  30. Knoxville Girl
  31. Where the Wild Roses Grow
  32. O’Malley’s Bar, Part 1
  33. O’Malley’s Bar, Part 2
  34. O’Malley’s Bar, Part 3
  35. Time Jesum Transeuntum et Non Riverentum
  36. O’Malley’s Bar (reprise)
  37. Red Right Hand
  38. Little Empty Boat
  39. Right Now I’m A‐Roaming
  40. Come Into My Sleep
  41. Black Hair (band version)
  42. Babe, I Got You Bad
  43. Sheep May Safely Graze
  44. Opium Tea
  45. Grief Came Riding
  46. Bless His Ever Loving Heart
  47. Good Good Day
  48. Little Janey’s Gone
  49. I Feel So Good
  50. Shoot Me Down
  51. Swing Low
  52. Little Ghost Song
  53. Everything Must Converge
  54. Nocturama
  55. She’s Leaving You
  56. Under This Moon