IN A NEAT LITTLE TOWN
THEY CALL BELFAST
NOW APPRENTICE TO TRADE
I WAS BOUND
AND IT'S MANY'S AN HOUR
OF SWEET HAPPINESS
HAVE I SPENT IN THAT
NEAT LITTLE TOWN
'TIL A SADLY MISFORTUNE
CAME OVER ME
WHICH CAUSED ME
TO STRAY FROM THE LAND
FAR AWAY FROM
ME 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
I TOOK A STROLL WITH
THIS PRETTY FAIR MAID
AND A GENTLEMAN
PASSING US BY
I KNEW SHE MEANT
THE UNDOING OF ME
BY THE LOOK IN HER
ROGUISH BLACK EYE
A GOLDWATCH
SHE TOOK FROM HIS POCKET
AND SHE PLACED IT
RIGHT INTO ME HAND
AND THE VERY FIRST THING
THAT I THOUGHT WAS
BAD LUCK TO
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
NOW BEFORE
A JUDGE AND A JURY
NEXT MORNING
I HAD TO APPEAR
WELL, THE JUDGE
HE SAID 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
AND A WARNING TAKE BY ME
WELL, WHEN YOU ARE OUT
ON THE TOWN, ME LADS
BEWARE OF THEM
PRETTY COLLEENS
FOR THEY'LL FEED YOU
WITH STRONG ALE, "MA YAH"
UNTIL YOU ARE
UNABLE TO STAND
AND THE VERY FIRST THING
THAT YOU'LL KNOW, ME LADS
IS YOU'VE LANDED
IN VAN DIEMEN'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...