Black Velvet Band

Anonymus
Irish ballad
Roud No. 2146 and 3764

     
      
= 66

      
G Em


Chorus


Her eyes they shone like the dia monds You'd think she was queen of the

     
             
D G Em Am D G

    
land And her hair hung ov er her shoul der, Tied up with a black vel vet band.

  Verse  
                 
Em

 
 


1. In a neat lit tle town they call Bel fast, Ap pren ticed to trade I was

Till a sad mis for tune came ov er me, Which caused me to stray from the

   
 
             
D G Em Am D

    

bound And man y an ho ur's sweet hap pi ness I spent in that neat lit tle
land Far a way from my friends and rel a tions, be trayed by the black vel vet

  
   
G

town.
band.

NOTE: As is often the case with long ballads with short verses, most performances of this song alternat
to every chorus.
(Chorus:)
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
In a neat little town they called Belfast
Apprenticed to trade I was bound
And many an hour's sweet happiness
I spent in that neat little town

This work (Black Velvet Band, by Anonymus), identified by Philip Cranford, is free of known copyright restrictions.
2 Until 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
Well, I was out strolling one evening
Not meaning to go very far
When I met with a pretty young damsel
Who was selling her trade in the bar.
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 cess to the black velvet band!"
Before the judge and the jury
Next morning, I had to appear
The judge, he says to me:
"Young man, you're 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"
So come all you jolly young fellows
A warning take by me
When you are out on the town, me lads
Beware of the pretty cailíns [colleens]
They'll feed you with strong drink, me lads
'Til you are unable to stand
And the very first thing that you'll know is
You've landed in Van Diemens Land