Black Velvet Band

Black Velvet Band - St. Patrick All-Stars

In a neat little town they call Belfast

Apprentice to trade I was bound

And the many's the hours sweet happiness

I've I spent in that neat little town

But a sad misfortune's come over me

Which caused me to stray from the land

Far away from me friends and companions

Betrayed by the black velvet band

Her eyes they shone like diamonds

I thought her the queen of the land

And her hair hung over her shoulder

Held up with a black velvet band

I took a stroll down Broadway

Intending not long for to stay

But who should I meet but this pretty young maid

Come traipsing along the highway

She was both fair and handsome

Her neck it was just like a swans

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 young 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 luck 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 companions

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

'Til you are unable to stand

And the very next 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