Black Velvet Band
In a neat little town they call Belfast
Apprenticed to trade I was bound,
And many an hour of sweet happiness
Did I spend in that sweet little town.
But a sad misfortune came over me,
Which caused me to stray from the land
Far away from me friends and relations,
betrayed by a black velvet band.
Ch: Her eyes they shone like diamonds,
I thought her the queen of the land,
And her hair it hung over her shoulders,
Tied up with a black velvet band.
As I was strolling down Broadway,
Meaning not long for to stay,
Who should I meet but a pretty fair maid,
Strolling along the pathway?
She was both fair and handsome,
Her neck it was just like a swan's
And her hair it hung over her shoulders,
Tied up with a black velvet band.
Chorus
I took a stroll with this pretty fair maid
When a gentleman passing us by
I knew that she meant the doing of him
By the look in her roguish black eye.
His gold watch she took from his pocket,
And placed it right into me hand.
And the very next thing that I said was
"Bad luck to the black velvet band..."
Chorus
Before a judge and a jury
Next morning I had to appear.
And the judge he says to me, "My lad,
Your fate it is proven quite clear.
We'll give you seven years' penal servitude,
To be spent far away from the land,
Far away from your friends and relations
Betrayed by a black velvet band."
Chorus
So come all you jolly young fellows,
A warning take by me
And when you are out on the town, me boys,
Beware of the pretty coleens.
They'll treat you to strong drink, me lads,
'Til you are unable to stand--
And the very next thing that you'll know, me boys,
You've landed in Van Deimen's Land!
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