Black Velvet Band In a neat, little town they call Belfast, apprentice to trade I was bound And many's the hour of sweet happiness I spent in that nice, little town Til one day, bad misfortune befell me, and caused me to stray from the land Far away from my friends and relations to follow the black velvet band Chorus: Her eyes, they shone like the diamonds, you'd think she was queen of the land And her hair hung over her shoulders tied up with a black velvet band As I went walking one evening, not intending to go very far I met with a pretty, young colleen, who was plying her trade in a bar A wallet she took from a customer, and placed right into my hand But the constable stepped up between us, bad luck to that black velvet band Before judge and jury next morning, for trial we had to appear And that judge, he said, my young fellow, the case against you is quite clear He said, seven long years is your sentence, you're going to Van Diemen's Land Far away from your friends and relations to follow the black velvet band Come all you jolly, young fellows, I'd have you take warning by me If you're ever out on the liquor, beware of those pretty colleens They'll fill you with whiskey and porter, until you're not able to stand And the very next thing, when you wake up, you've landed on Van Diemen's Land

© 2005 Jonathan Ramsey Irish Music Productions