Although Lead Belly most commonly played the twelve-string, he could also play the piano, mandolin, harmonica, violin, and accordion. In some of his recordings, such as in one of his versions of the folk ballad "John Hardy", he performs on the accordion instead of the guitar. In other recordings he just sings while clapping his hands or stomping his foot.
The topics of Lead Belly's music covered a wide range of subjects, including gospel songs; blues songs about women, liquor, prison life, and racism; and folk songs about cowboys, prison, work, sailors, cattle herding, and dancing. He also wrote songs concerning the newsmakers of the day, such as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Adolf Hitler, Jean Harlow, the Scottsboro Boys, and Howard Hughes.
In 2008, Lead Belly was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
Though many of his posthumous releases list him as "Leadbelly," he himself spelled it "Lead Belly." This is also the usage on most of his original records, tombstone, as well as of the Lead Belly Foundation.
Leadbelly was born in Mooringsport, Louisiana, and spent time in and out of prison most of his life. In 1933, serving a sentence for attempted murder, musicologists John and Alan Lomax "discovered" him on a field recording tour sponsored by the Library of Congress. That summer, he was pardoned by the governor of Lousiana after recording his plea for pardon on a record, together with "Good Night Irene". Leadbelly went on to make hundreds of recordings of all sorts of different songs: country, blues, spirituals, reels, and work chants.
His songs have been covered by Mark Lanegan, The Animals, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Nirvana, Lonnie Donegan, Johnny Cash, Gene Autry, The Beach Boys, Led Zeppelin, British Sea Power, Ram Jam, Ry Cooder, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Half Man Half Biscuit, Tom Waits, Shocking Blue, The White Stripes, Long John Baldry.
Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Biography: Lead Belly Biography
BIO Biography: Lead Belly Biography
Lead Belly Foundation: Lead Belly Foundation.org
Lead Belly is also on Last.fm as Lead Belly
Ha Ha This A-Way
Leadbelly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ha ha that-a way,
Ha ha this-a way,
Man oh man.
When I was a little boy, little boy, little boy,
When I was a little boy 12 years old.
Papa went and left me, left me,
Ha ha this-a way,
Ha ha that-a way,
Ha ha this-a way,
Man oh man.
Mama come and got me, she got me, got me,
Mama come and got me to save my soul.
Mama never whooped me, whooped me,
Mama never whooped me so I was told.
Ha ha this-a way,
Ha ha that-a way,
Ha ha this-a way,
Man oh man.
I went to school, went to school, went to school boys,
Went to school when I was 12 years old.
I obeyed the rules, the rules, the rules boys,
I obeyed the rules as I was told.
Ha ha this-a way,
Ha ha that-a way,
Ha ha this-a way,
Man oh man.
I went to a teacher, teacher, teacher,
Went to a teacher to save my soul.
Teacher was a preacher, preacher, preacher,
Teacher was a preacher so I was told.
Ha ha this-a way,
Ha ha that-a way,
Ha ha this-a way,
Man oh man.
I liked my lesson, lesson lesson,
Liked my lesson to save my soul.
Wasn′t that a blessing, blessing, blessing,
Wasn't that a blessing so I was told.
Ha ha this-a way,
Ha ha that-a way,
Ha ha this-a way,
Man oh man.
Leadbelly's song "Ha Ha This A-Way" is a playful and upbeat tune that likely originated as a children's song. The repeated lines of "ha ha this a-way" and "ha ha that a-way" create a call-and-response feel, encouraging listeners to join in.
The lyrics tell the story of Leadbelly's childhood, with each verse highlighting a different experience. The first verse recounts his father abandoning him at age 12, while the second verse describes his mother coming to rescue him. The third verse discusses Leadbelly's time in school, where he dutifully followed the rules and learned from his teacher. The final verse focuses on the enjoyment Leadbelly found in his education, ending on a positive note.
Although the song seems simple on the surface, it touches on deeper themes such as abandonment, familial bonds, and the value of education. By framing these topics in a playful and accessible way, Leadbelly creates a song that can resonate with both children and adults.
Line by Line Meaning
Ha ha this-a way,
Laughing at the absurdity of life's twists and turns.
Ha ha that-a way,
Giggling at fate's unpredictable direction.
Ha ha this-a way,
Continuing to find humor in life's journey.
Man oh man.
Expressing a sense of awe and wonder at life's mysteries.
When I was a little boy, little boy, little boy,
Recalling childhood experiences and memories.
When I was a little boy 12 years old.
Reflecting on a specific point in childhood development.
Papa went and left me, left me,
Experiencing the pain of abandonment at a young age.
Papa went and left me so I was told.
Relying on the accounts of others to understand events that occurred before memory.
Mama come and got me, she got me, got me,
Finding comfort and security in the presence of a maternal figure.
Mama come and got me to save my soul.
Believing that a mother's love and guidance can provide spiritual protection.
Mama never whooped me, whooped me,
Growing up without experiencing physical punishment from a parent.
Mama never whooped me so I was told.
Realizing that the experience of childhood is filtered through familial narratives and memories.
I went to school, went to school, went to school boys,
Starting formal education at a young age.
Went to school when I was 12 years old.
Narrating a chronological sequence of life events.
I obeyed the rules, the rules, the rules boys,
Conforming to societal expectations and authority figures.
I obeyed the rules as I was told.
Following instruction and guidance from those in positions of power.
I went to a teacher, teacher, teacher,
Seeking knowledge and mentorship from an educated adult.
Went to a teacher to save my soul.
Viewing education as a path to enlightenment and spiritual fulfillment.
Teacher was a preacher, preacher, preacher,
Seeing connections between formal education and religious doctrine.
Teacher was a preacher so I was told.
Acknowledging the influence of others' perceptions on personal understanding and belief systems.
I liked my lesson, lesson lesson,
Enjoying the process of learning and personal growth.
Liked my lesson to save my soul.
Believing that knowledge and education can lead to spiritual salvation.
Wasn′t that a blessing, blessing, blessing,
Expressing gratitude for the gifts of learning and spiritual growth.
Wasn't that a blessing so I was told.
Acknowledging the influence of others' perceptions on personal understanding and gratitude.
Writer(s): Huddie Ledbetter, Alan Lomax, John A. Lomax
Contributed by Elliot N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ashley
I have heard this song before in the smithsonian folkways album on iTunes. :)
dave adamson
On "Lets All Sing With Tony Saletan"in 1973 Tony sung this very song that "Lead Belly"taught Tony before his death in 1948.Tony Saletan also sung "Bring Me Little Water Saliva.
raul macias
This sounds like a Mexican Folk song!
The great Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter"!
Sakhal Nakhash
"Wasn't that a blessing?", so I was told.
Zulu Romeo
I preferred Paul Daniels's freestyle rap cover of this in the mid 1980s.
Jenna A
said nobody who actually sat through the horror of Wizbit ever.
Andrew Crozier
Kids who grew up to be real men, they took wizbit in their strides
eclectica1
@Jenna A You could appreciate the intro and avoid the rest of it.
Gareth Oneill
I had a terrible crush on the gatekeeper
Leepshin
WIZBIT and Paul Daniels have a lot to answer for. Lol