BLACK VELVET BAND
(Irish - Traditional)


Recorded by: The Dubliners; Paddy Reilly; Johnny Logan; 
Grehan Sisters; Slim Dusty; Foster & Allen; Ann Mooney; 
Tommy Makem; Martin Flynn; Johnny Kelly; Irish Rovers; 
Ewan MacColl; Frank Carson; Tom Donovan; Ronnie Drew;
..........and many others.





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 o'er me
Which caused me to stray from the land
Far away from my 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
Come a tripping 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 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 gold watch she took from his pocket
And placed it right into 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 this 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, oh yeah 
'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


******


ALTERNATE VERSION (1):


Her eyes they shone like the diamonds
You'd think she was Queen of the land
And her hair hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band

In a neat little town they call Belfast
Apprenticed to trade I was bound
And many an hour's sweet happiness
I spent in that neat little town
 
Till bad misfortune came o'er me
That caused me to stray from the land
Far away from my friends and relations
To follow the black velvet band    
 
Her eyes they shone like the diamonds
You'd think she was Queen of the land
And her hair hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band

Well, I was out strolling one evening
Not meaning to go very far
When I met with a pretty young damsel who
Was selling her trade in the bar
 
When a watch she took from a customer
And slipped it right into my hand
Then the Watch came and put me in prison, me lads
Bad luck to the black velvet band    
 
Her eyes they shone like the diamonds
You'd think she was Queen of the land
And her hair hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band

Next morning before judge and jury
For a trial I had to appear
And the judge, he said, "You young fellow
The case against you is quite clear                

And seven long years is your sentence
You're going to Van Dieman's Land
Far away from your friends and relations
To follow the black velvet band"
 
Her eyes they shone like the diamonds
You'd think she was Queen of the land
And her hair hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band 

So come all you jolly young fellows
I'd have you take warning by me
Whenever you're out on the liquor, me lads
Beware of the pretty colleen

She'll fill you with whiskey and porter
Until you're not able to stand
And the very next thing that you'll know, me lads
You're landed in Van Dieman's Land    
 
Her eyes they shone like the diamonds
You'd think she was Queen of the land
And her hair hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band  


******


ALTERNATE VERSION (2):


'Twas in the town of Tralee
Apprenticed to trade I was bound
With plenty of bright amusement
To see the days going round

'Til misfortune and trouble came over me
Which caused me to stray from the land
Far away from my friends and relations
To follow the Black Velvet Band

Her eyes they shone like diamonds
You'd think her the Queen of the Land
And her hair hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a Black Velvet Band

As I went walking down Broadway
Not intending to stay very long
I met with a frolicsome damsel
As she came tripping along

I took a stroll with this pretty fair maid
And a gentleman passing us by
I knew she meant a-doing for him
By the look in her roguish black eye

A watch she pulled out of his pocket
And slipped it right into my hand
On the very first day that I met her
Bad luck to the Black Velvet Band

Before the judge and the jury
The both of us had to appear
And a gentleman swore to the jewelry
The case against us was clear

For seven years transportation
Right into Van Dieman's Land
Far away from my friends and relations
To follow the Black Velvet Band

So all you brave young fellas
A warning take now from me
Beware of the pretty young damsels
Beware of the pretty coleens

They'll treat you to whiskey and porter
Until you're unable to stand
And before you have time for to leave them
You're banished to Van Dieman's Land

Her eyes they shone like diamonds
You'd think her the Queen of the Land
And her hair hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a Black Velvet Band


******


AUSTRALIAN VERSION:


It was in the city of London
In apprenticeship I was bound
And many's the gay old hour
I spent in that dear old town

And her eyes they shone like diamonds
I thought her the pride of the land
The hair that hung down on her shoulder
Was tied with a black velvet band

One day as I was walking
Along my usual beat
A pretty little young maiden
Came tripping along the street

And her eyes they shone like diamonds
I thought her the pride of the land
the hair that hung down on her shoulder
Was tied with a black velvet band

One day as we were a walking
A gentleman passed us by
I could see she was bent on some mischief
By the rolling of her dark blue eye

And her eyes they shone like diamonds
I thought her the pride of the land
The hair that hung down on her shoulder
Was tied with a black velvet band

Gold watch she picked from his pocket
And slyly placed into my hand
I was taken in charge by a copper
Bad luck to that black velvet band

And her eyes they shone like diamonds
I thought her the pride of the land
The hair that hung down on her shoulder
Was tied with a black velvet band

Before the Lord Mayor I was taken
"Your case, Sir, I plainly can see
And if I'm not greatly mistaken
You're bound far over the sea"

And her eyes they shone like diamonds
I thought her the pride of the land
The hair that hung down on her shoulder
Was tied with a black velvet band

It's over the dark and blue ocean
Far away to Van Diemens Land
Away from my friends and relations
And the girl with the black velvet band

And her eyes they shone like diamonds
I thought her the pride of the land
The hair that hung down on her shoulder
Was tied with a black velvet band


******










(Contributed by Mel - June 2009)