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The Black Velvet Band
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Album: I Love Sing Along Irish Pub Favorites
Albums: I Love Ireland
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Traditional
Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania) was first colonised by the British in 1803. In 1807 the first convicts, transported from Britain, arrived, and thousands more were to follow, until 1853 when the transportation system was abolished. This is one of many transportation songs. Tasmanian whalers are known to have had a version of this song, The Hat With the Velvet Band, which served them as a working, drinking and fighting song.
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In a neat little town they call Belfast,
Apprenticed tae trade I was bound
Aye an' many an hour of sweet happiness
I spent in that neat little town
Till a sad misfortune which caused me
To stray from the land
Far away from me friends and relations
To follow the black velvet band
Chorus:
Her eyes they shone like the diamonds
You'd think she was queen of the land
And her hair hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band.
As I went strolling down Broadway
Not meaning to go very far
I met with a frolicksome damsel
Selling her trade in a bar
When a watch she took from a customer
And slipped it right into my hand
Then the law came and put me in prison
Bad luck with her black velvet band
Next morning before judge and jury
For trial I had to appear
Well the judge he said, "Me young fellow,
The case against you is quite clear.
And seven long years is your sentence
You're going to Van Dieman's Land
Far away from your friends and relations"
To follow the black velvet band
Chorus
So come all ye jolly young fellows
I'll have you take warning by me
Whenever your into the liquor me lads
Beware of the pretty colleens.
For they'll fill you with whiskey and porter
Till you are not able to stand
And the very next thing that ye know me lads
You've landed in "Van Dieman's Land".
Chorus
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