The Black Velvet Band
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"The Black Velvet Band" is a traditional Irish folk song describing transportation to Australia, a common punishment in 19th century Britain & Ireland. The song tells the story of a tradesman who meets a young woman who has stolen an item and passed it on to him (the lyrics of the song vary from place to place). The man then appears in court the next day, charged with stealing the item and is sent to Australia for doing so.
[edit] Recordings
- The Irish Rovers on their album The Unicorn.
- The Dubliners
- Ewan MacColl
- Dropkick Murphys on their album Blackout, this version differs slightly from the traditional.
- Four to the Bar on their live album Craic on the Road, in a medley with "The Galway Shawl" and "The Wild Rover".
Lyrics
In a neat little town they call Belfast
Apprenticed in trade I was bound
And many an hour of sweet happiness
I spent in that neat little town
Then bad misfortune came o'er me
That caused me to stray from the land
Far away from my friends and relations
To follow the black velvet band
As I was out strolling one evening
Not intending to stay very long
I met a handsome young damsel
As she came tripping along
A gold watch she took from a pocket
And slipped it right into my hand
On the very first night that I met her
Bad luck to the black velvet band.
(Chorus):
Her eyes, they shone like the diamond
You'd think she was queen of the land
And her hair hung over her shoulder
Tied up in a black velvet band
Before judge and jury next morning
The both of us had to appear
A gentleman said 'twas his jewellery
And the case against us was clear
For seven long years transportation
I was sent off to Van Diemen's Land
Far away from my friends and relations
To follow this black velvet band
So come all you jolly young fellows
I'll have you take warning by me
Whenever you're out on the liquor me lads
Beware of the pretty Colleen
She'll fill you with whiskey and porter
Until you're not able to stand
And the very next thing you'd know, me lads
You've landed in Van Diemen's Land.
Alternative lyrics (as sung by The Dubliners)
Well, in a neat little town they call Belfast
Apprentice to trade I was bound
Many an hours 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 my friends and relations
Betrayed by the black velvet band
(Chorus):
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
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 swans
And her hair it hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band
(Chorus)
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
(Chorus)
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 companions,
betrayed by the black velvet band"
(Chorus)
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
(Chorus)
