In a neat little town
they call Belfast
Apprenticed in trade
I was bound
And many an hour
of sweet happiness
Have I spent in that
neat little town
A sad misfortune
befell me
And caused me to
stray from the land
Far away from my
friends and relations
To follow the
black velvet band
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
I took a stroll
down broadway
Meaning not
long for to stay
But who should I
meet but this
pretty young maid
Come a-traipsing
along the highway
She was both fair
and handsome
Her neck it was
just like a swan
And her hair
it hung over
her shoulder
Tied up with a
black velvet band
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
I took a stroll
with this
pretty young maid
And the gentleman
passing us by
Well I knew she
meant the undoing
of him by the look
in her rogueish
black eyes
A gold watch she
took from
his pocket
And placed it right
into my hand
And the very first
thing that
I said was
Bad luck to your
velvet black band
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
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 far away
from the land
Far away from
your friends
and relations
Betrayed by the
black velvet band
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
So come all you
jolly young fellows
A warning be
taking by me
When you are out
on the town
me lads
Beware of those
pretty colleens
They'll feed you with
strong drink
me lads
Till you are unable
to stand
And the very first
thing that
you know is
You've landed in
Van Dieman's land
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