In a neat little town they call Belfast,
Apprentice to trade I was bound,
And many an hour's sweet happiness
Have I spent in that neat little town.
A sad misfortune came over me
Which caused me to stray from the land
Far away from me 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 shoulders
Tied up with a black velvet band
I took a stroll down Broadway
Meaning not long for to stay
When who should I meet
But this pretty fair maid
Comes a -trippin' along the highway
She was both fair and handsome
Her neck it was just like a swan's
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 hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band
I took a stroll with this fair maid
And a gentleman passing us by
Well I knew that she meant
the do ing of him
By the look in her roguish black eye
A gold watch she took from his pocket
And placed it right in to my hand
And the very first thing that I said was
Bad luck to the black velvet band
Her eyes they shone like diamonds
I thought her the queen of the land
And 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
And the judge, he says to me,
young man,
your 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 companions
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
So come on you jolly young fellows
A warning take by me
When you are out on the town, me lads
Beware of them pretty Colleens
For they will feed you with strong drink
Till you are unable to stand
And the very next thing that
you'll know is
You've landed in Van Diemen's land
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, shone like diamonds
I thought her the queen of the land
And her hair, it hung over her shoulders
Tied up with a black velvet band