Well, in a neat little town they call Belfast, apprentice to trade I was bound
Oh and manys the hour of sweet happiness, have I spent in that neat little town
A sad misfortune come over me, which caused me to stray from the land
Far away from my friends and relations, far away from that black velvet band
Her eyes they shone like diamonds
I thought her the queen of the land
Her hair hung over her shoulders
Tied up with a black velvet band
I took a stroll down Broadway, meaning not long for to stay
When who should I see but this pretty fair maid comes a tripping along the pathway
She was both fair and handsome, her neck it was just like a swan's
And the very next thing that I said was way off it's that black velvet band
Her eyes they shone like diamonds
I thought her the queen of the land
Her hair hung over her shoulders
Tied up with a black velvet band
I took a stroll with this pretty fair maid, and a gentleman pa**ing us by
Well I knew she meant the doings of him, by the look in her roguish black eye
His watch she took from his pocket and she placed it right in to my hand
And the very next thing that I said was it wasn't me it was that black velvet band
Or: And the very next thing that I knew was
I landed in Van Diemen's Land.
Her eyes they shone like diamonds
I thought her the queen of the land
Her hair hung over her shoulders
Tied up with a black velvet band
Before the judge and the jury, next morning I had to appear
The judge he says to us: "Young man, your case it is proven clear
We'll give you seven years penal servitude, to be spent faraway from your land
Faraway from your friends and relations, faraway from that black velvet band"
Her eyes they shone like diamonds
I thought her the queen of the land
Her hair hung over her shoulders
Tied up with a black velvet band
So come all you jolly young fellows I'll have you take a warning by me
When you are out on the liquor me boys, beware of them pretty colleens
They'll treat you to strong drink me boys 'til you are not able to stand
And before you've designs to leave them they'll have you in Van Diemens Land
Her eyes they shone like diamonds
I thought her the queen of the land
Her hair hung over her shoulders
Tied up with a black velvet band