The Black Velvet Band Lyrics
The High KingsMusic Video
In a neat little town they call Belfast
      Apprentice to trade I was bound
      Oh many an hours sweet happiness
      Have I spent in that neat little town
But a sad misfortune came over me
      Which caused me to stray from the land
      Far away from my 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 down Broadway
      Oh meaning not long for to stay
      When who should I meet but this pretty fair 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
So I took a stroll with this pretty fair maid
  And a gentleman passing us by
  Oh I knew that she meant the undoing of him
  By the look in her roguish black eye
A gold watch she took from his pocket
  And slipped it right into my hand
  And the very first thing that I said was
  Bad ‘cess 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
Seven long years penal servitude
  I spent down in Van Diemen Land
  Far away from my 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
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
Song Details
Composer / Lyricist: Traditional
Date: 1907
Brief: Depicts the story of a tradesman who is handed a piece of stolen property from a young lady he had just met. The next day the man appears in court and is wrongfully charged with the crime and is sent to Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania, Australia) for seven years to serve out the term of his punishment.
Glossary:
 
cess - an Irish slang word for luck 
Colleens - Irish word for girls.
Van Dieman's Land - the former name of Tasmania (1642–1855) - an island state of the Commonwealth of Australia. It is located 240 km (150 miles) south of the Australian mainland, separated by Bass Strait. 
Genre: Irish Folk Song
Covers by Celtic Artists: The Dubliners, The High Kings, The Irish Rovers, Ewan MacColl, Dropkick Murphys, Brobdingnagian Bards, Celtic Thunder, The Dublin City Ramblers, Harry O'Donoghue, Patsy Watchorn.
Featured Artists: The High Kings
Album: The High Kings
Release Date: Feb 26, 2008
Country: Ireland
Format: CD, Album
Label: Celtic Collections Ltd.
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