The Black Velvet Band

Black Velvet Band - The Dubliners

In a neat little town they call Belfast,

apprentice to trade I was bound

Many an hours sweet happiness,

have I spent in that neat little town

A sad misfortune came over me,

which caused me to stray from the land

Far away from me friends and relations,

betrayed by the black velvet band

Her eyes they shone like diamonds

I thought her the queen of the land

And her hair it hung over her shoulder

Tied up with a black velvet band

I took a stroll down Broadway,

meaning not long for to stay

When who should I meet but this pretty fair

maid comes a trapsing along the highway

She was both fair and handsome,

her neck it was just like a swan

And her hair it hung over her shoulder,

tied up with a black velvet band

Her eyes they shone like diamonds

I thought her the queen of the land

And her hair it hung over her shoulder

Tied up with a black velvet band

I took a stroll with this pretty fair maid,

and a gentleman passing us by

Well I knew she meant the doing of him,

by the look in her roguish black eye

A goldwatch she took from his pocket

and placed it right in to my hand

And the very first thing that I said

was bad `cess to the black velvet band

Her eyes they shone like diamonds

I thought her the queen of the land

And her hair it hung over her shoulder

Tied up with a black velvet band

Before the judge and the jury,

next morning I had to appear

The judge he says to me:

Young man, your case it is proven clear

We'll give you seven years penal servitude,

to be spent faraway from the land

Far away from your friends and relations,

betrayed by the black velvet band

Her eyes they shone like diamonds

I thought her the queen of the land

And her hair it hung over her shoulder

Tied up with a black velvet band

So come all you jolly young

fellows a warning take by me

When you are out on the town me lads,

beware of them pretty colleens

For they feed you with strong drink,

me lads, 'til you are unable to stand

And the very first thing that you'll know

is you've landed in Van Diemens Land

Her eyes they shone like diamonds

I thought her the queen of the land

And her hair it hung over her shoulder

Tied up with a black velvet band