Black Velvet Band

Chorus:

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

In a neat little town they call Belfast

Apprenticed in trade I was bound

And a many an hour of sweet happiness

I spent in that neat little town

'til bad misfortune befell me

And caused me to stray from the land

Far away from my friends and relations

To follow a black velvet band

(Chorus)

Oh, I was out strolling on Broadway

Meaning not long for to stay

When I met with a pretty fair maiden

Come troppsing along the highway

A gold watch she stole from a gentleman

And put it right into my hand

Then the watch came and put me in prison

Bad luck to the black velvet band

(Chorus)

Next morning before judge and jury

For up trial I had to appear

And the judge he said: 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 that black velvet band

(Chorus)

So come all ye jolly young fellows

A warning take by me

That whenever you're out on the liquor

Beware of them pretty colleens

They'll fool you with whiskey and porter

Until you're not able to stand

And the very next thing that you know, my lads

You've landed in Van Dieman's land