Black Velvet Band
Trad.

     D                          G   D
In a neat little town they call Belfast 
    D                      A
Apprenticed to trade I was bound
    D                    Bm
And many an hour’s sweet happiness
  Em                 A7     D
I spent in that neat little town 
       D                   G    D
Till a sad misfortune came over me
    D                           A
And caused me to stray from the land
      D                        Bm
Far away from me friends and relations 
  Em            A7           D
Betrayed by the black velvet band.


[chorus] 
    D                    G   D
Her eyes they shone like diamonds
  D                            A 
I thought she was queen of the land 
        D                     Bm
And her hair it hung over her shoulder 
     Em        A7           D
Tied up with a black velvet band.


   D                    G   D
As I went strolling one evening
    D                  A
Not meaning to go very far
  D                    Bm
I spied a pretty young damsel
  Em         A7           D
Parading her wares in the bar
  D                     G     D
A watch she took from a customer
    D                      A
And slipped it right into my hand
         D                      Bm
Then the law came and put me in prison
    Em          A7           D
Bad luck to her black velvet band
[repeat chorus]


  D                      G  D
Before the judge and the jury
     D                   A
Next morning I had to appear.
        D                         Bm
And the judge said “Me fine young fellow
    Em           A7           D
The case against you is quite clear,
    D                        G   D
For seven long years is your sentence,
       D                     A
You're going to Van Diemen's Land,
  D                          Bm
Away from your friends and relations,
   Em         A7           D
To follow the black velvet band”


[repeat chorus]


   D                        G   D
So come all you jolly young fellows
  D                          A
A warning you will take from me
     D                  Bm
When you are out on the town me lads
  Em          A7         D
Beware of the pretty colleen
       D                         G   D
She’ll fill you with whiskey and porter
   D                   A
Until you’re unable to stand
        D                        Bm
And the very next thing that you know me lads
       Em        A7          D
You’ve landed in Van Diemens Land.


[repeat chorus x 2]