The Black Velvet Band
Folklore
Ton : G
GWell, in a neat little town they call Belfast
CApprentice to trade I was D7bound
GMany an hour's sweet happinEmess
Have I Cspent in that neat liDttle toGwn
GA sad misfortune came over me
Which cCaused me to stray from the D7land,
GFar away from my friends and relatEmions
CBetrayed by the Dblack velvet Gband.
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GHer eyes they shone like diamonds,
CI thought her the queen of the D7land
GAnd her hair it hung over her shoulder
CTied up with a Dblack velvet Gband.
I took a stroll down Broadway
Meaning not long for to stay,
When who should I meet but this pretty fair maid
Comes a tripping along the highway.
She was both fair and handsome
Her neck it was just like a swan's,
And her hair it hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band.
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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 luck to the black velvet band."
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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."
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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.
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