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THE BLACK VELVET BAND
Trad. Arr. Merry Ploughboys
 
In a sweet little town called Belfast,




Apprenticed to trade I was bound,




And manys the hours sweet happiness
That I spent in that sweet little town
 
‘till a sad misfortune came over me
and caused me to stray from the land
far away from my friends and companions 
to follow the black velvet band
 
Chorus:
Her eyes they shone like diamonds
You’d think she was queen of the land
With her hair thrown over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band
 
So I took a stroll down Broadway
Intending not long for to stay
When who should I meet but this pretty fair maid 
Come a trapsing along the highway
 
She was both fair and handsome
And her neck it was just like a swan’s
And her hair it hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band
 
Chorus:
 
So I took a stroll with this pretty fair maid
And a gentleman passing us by
Well I knew she meant the doing of him 
By the look in her roguish black eyes
 
Now a gold watch she took form his pocket 
And she slipped it right into my hand 
And the very first thing that I said it was 
Bad luck to the black velvet band
 
Chorus:
 
Before Judge and jury next morning
Well the pair of us had to appear
and the judge he said to me “young man 
your case it is proven clear”
 
I’ll give you ten years penal servitude
To spend far away form the land
Far away from your friends and companions
Betrayed by the black velvet band