GIRL IN THE BLUE VELVET BAND, THE
(Mel Foree / Cliff Carlisle - adapted from the traditional
19th century English song "The Black Velvet Band")

Cliff & Bill Carlisle - 1934
Hank Snow - 1937
Tex Fletcher & Joe Rogers - 1937
Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys - 1949
Mac Wiseman - 1959
Doc Watson - 1968
Jerry Douglas & Peter Rowan - 1995

Also recorded by:
Montana Slim; Porter Wagoner; Hylo Brown;
The Del McCoury Band..................and others.



One night while out for a ramble
The hour was just about nine
I met a young maiden in Frisco
On the corner of Kearny and Pine

On her face there was beauty of nature
And her eyes they did seem to expand
Her hair was so rich and so brilliant
Entwined in a blue velvet band

(Banjo Solo)

We strolled down the long street together
In my pocket she placed her small hand
Planted the evidence on me
That girl in the blue velvet band

Then I heard the wild scream of the siren
And the girl in the blue velvet band
She left me to face all the trouble
With a diamond that was worth two grand

(Fiddle Solo)

They sent me to San Quintin for stealin'
And God knows I'm an innocent man
For the guilty one now she lies dyin'
That girl in the blue velvet band

I'll be out in a year, then I'm leavin'
But I'll carry the name of a man
Who spent ten years in this prison
For the girl in the blue velvet band

(Guitar Solo)

Last night while bedtime was ringin'
I was standin' close to the bars
I fancied I could hear her voice callin'
From far out on the ocean of stars

I'll be out in a year, then I'm leavin'
But I'll carry the name of a man
Who spent ten years in this prison
For the girl in the blue velvet band

And when I get out I'll endeavour
To live in some other land
And I'll bid farewell to old Frisco
And the girl in the blue velvet band


(Contributed by boB Cartlidge - January 2003)


NB: In other versions 'Kearny and Pine' in the first verse
is referred to as 'Geary & Pine' or 'Cherry & Pine'.


++++++++++


ALTERNATE VERSION:

In that city of beauty and fashion
In Frisco I first saw the ligh;
And the numerous adventures and frolics
That live in my memory tonight

I was walking the streets of old Frisco
The hour was just turning nine
When I chanced on a girl, tall and slender
On the corner of Kearney and Pine

Her face was a vision of beauty
Her eyes, they seemed to expand
And her hair it was long, rich and golden
Entwined in a blue velvet band

To a place where they served us strong liquor
She invited me with a sweet smile
She seemed so refined, gay and charming
That I thought I would tarry awhile

She took me back to her apartment
It was up on the third floor above
And I thought myself truly in heaven
As I looked at this goddess of love

But what struck me most was an object
Designed by an artistic hand
'Twas the costly layout of a hop-fiend
And the fiend was my blue velvet band

On a pile of fine satins and pillows
She reclined, I declined on the floor
Then we both hit the pipe and I slumbered
I pondered it over and o'er

'Tis months since the craven arm grasped me
And in bliss did my life slip away
From opium to dipping and thieving
She artfully led day by day

One evening, coming home wet and weary
With the swag from a jewelry store
I heard the soft voice of my loved one
As I quietly opened the door

"If you'll give me a clue to convict him"
Said a stranger, in tones soft and bland
"You'll then prove to me that you love me"
"It's a go" said my blue velvet band

Ah! How my heart then filled with anger
At this woman, so fair, false and vile
And the thought that I once truly loved her
Forced my lips to a sad, bitter smile

All ill-gotten gains we had squandered
And my life, it was hers to command
Deserted and left for another
Could this be my blue velvet band

What happened to me I will tell you
I was ditched for a desperate crime
For during that jewelry store hold-up
A man was shot down in his prime

As a convict of hard reputation
Ten years of hard grind did I land
And I often recalled all the pleasures
I had with my blue velvet band

Many months have gone by since this happened
And the story belongs to the past
I forgave her, but just retribution
Claimed this fair but false one at last

She slowly sank lower and lower
Downward through life's shifting sands
Till finally she died in a hop-joint
The girl in the blue velvet band

Now when I get out I will hasten
To live honest in some other land
For I'm bidding farewell to old Frisco
And the grave of the blue velvet band


++++++++++


As recorded by HANK SNOW:

If you listen, a story I'll tell you
Of a girl who once lived in this land
A girl who once was my sweetheart
She was known as the blue velvet band

On her cheeks was the first flush of nature
Her beauty it seemed to expand
Her hair hung down in long tresses
Tied back by the blue velvet band

I can still see those tears as we parted
Of my heart broken blue velvet band
As I left her I told her I'd never
Come back to my old home again

Five years in the wide open spaces
Was all that my poor heart could stand
Every night as I lay on my pillow
I would dream of my blue velvet band

Then one night as I lay down dreaming
Of home and dear Mother and Dad
Like a flash by my bedside was standing
The form of my blue velvet band

I started the next day for my darling
To go back and make her my bride
But as I reached the old country depot
They told me my sweetheart had died

They laid her to rest in the churchyard
Mid the sweet summer flowers of the land
On her finger was the ring I had bought her
On her head was the blue velvet band