Black Velvet Band

In a neat little town they call Belfast, apprentice to trade I was bound And many a happy an hour I spent in that neat little town Til bad misfortune came o'er me, and forced me to stray from the land Far away from my friends and relations, I followed a black velvet band Her eyes, they shone like the diamonds You'd think she was queen of the land And her hair hung over her shoulders Tied up with a black velvet band One evening when I went out strolling, not meaning to go very far I met a fickle young damsel, selling her trade in the bar She took a watch from a customer, and slipped it right into my hand And the law came and put me in prison, bad luck to the black velvet band Her eyes, they shone like the diamonds You'd think she was queen of the land And her hair hung over her shoulders Tied up with a black velvet band Next morning, the judge and jury, for trial I had to appear And the judge, he says "me young fellow, the case against you is quite clear For seven long years is your sentence. You're going to Van Diemen's Land" Far away from my friends and relations, I followed the black velvet band Her eyes, they shone like the diamonds You'd think she was queen of the land And her hair hung over her shoulders Tied up with a black velvet band So, come all ye young lads and young fellows, I'll have you heed warning by me And whenever you're out on the sweet liquor, my lads, beware of those pretty colleens For they'll fill you with whiskey and porter, til you can not barely stand And the very next thing that you know, my lads, you've landed in Van Diemen's Land Her eyes, they shone like the diamonds You'd think she was queen of the land And her hair hung over her shoulders Tied up with a black velvet band