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Her eyes they shone like a diamond,
I saw her the queen of the land;
And her hair hung over her shoulders,
Tied up with a black velvet band.
In the neat little town they call Belfast,
Apprenticed to trade I was bound,
And manys an hours of sweet happiness,
Have I spent in that neat little town;
Till sad misfortune came o'er 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 a diamond,
I saw her the queen of the land;
And her hair hung over her shoulders,
Tied up with a black velvet band.
As I was strolling down Broadway,
Meaning not long for to stay;
When who should I meet but this pretty fair maid,
Come a-courtin' along the highway.
She was both fair and handsome,
And her neck it was just like a swan;
And her hair hung over her shoulders,
Tied up with a black velvet band.
As I was courtin' this pretty fair maid,
And a gentlemen passin' us by;
I know she meant the doing of him,
By the look in her roguish black eyes.
A gold watch she took from his pocket,
And placed it right into me hand;
And the very next thing that I said was,
That just fit a black velvet band.
Before the judge and the jury,
Next morning I had to appear;
The judge he says to me, "Young man,
Your case it is forever clear.
I'll give you seven years at hard labour,
To be served far away from this land."
Far away from me friends and relations,
Betrayed by the black velvet band.
So, come all you jolly young fellows,
A warning you'll take by me;
Whenever you're out on the town, me lads,
Beware of the pretty colleens.
They'll fill you up with some drink, me lads,
Till you are unable to stand;
And the very next thing that you'll know is,
You've landed in Van Dieman's Land.
