Lyrics and Chords

Black Velvet Band

The lyrics to the Black Velvet Band vary slightly from town to town in Ireland and there are also versions to be found in England and Scotland.

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There is a popular Irish version set in Tralee, and in England the town is often given as London.

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In all the versions, however, the lyrics tell the same basic story.

A young man is out walking in the town. She hands him some stolen jewellery and he ends up in court. He’s then sentenced to seven years penal servitude.

Black Velvet Band lyrics and chords

 

 

G 

Well, in a neat little town they call Belfast

 

C 

Apprentice to trade I was  

D7 

bound.

 

G 

Many an hour’s sweet happi

Em 

ness

 

Have I  

C 

spent in that neat  

D 

little 

 

 

G 

town.

 

G 

A sad misfortune came over me

 

Which  

C 

caused me to stray from the  

D7 

land,

 

G 

Far away from my friends and relations

 

C 

Betrayed by the  

D 

black velvet  

G 

band.

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Chorus

 

G 

Her eyes they shone like diamonds,

 

C 

I thought her the queen of the  

D7 

land

 

G 

And her hair it hung over her shoulder

 

C 

Tied up with a  

D 

black velvet  

G 

band.

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I took a stroll down Broadway

Meaning not long for to stay,

When who should I meet but this pretty fair maid

Comes a tripping 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.

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Chorus

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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 eye.

A goldwatch 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.”

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Chorus

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Before the judge and the jury

Next morning I had to appear.

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 faraway from the land,

Far away from your friends and relations,

Betrayed by the black velvet band.”

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Chorus

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So come all 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 feed you with strong drink, “Oh yeah”

‘Til you are unable to stand,

And the very next thing that you’ll know is

You’ve landed in Van Diemens Land

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Chorus

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Black Velvet Band main page
Lyrics and Chords
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