In a neat little town they call Belfast, apprentice to trade I was bound
And many a happy an hour I spent in that neat little town
Til bad misfortune came o'er me, and forced me to stray from the land
Far away from my friends and relations, I followed a black velvet band
Her eyes, they shone like the diamonds
You'd think she was queen of the land
And her hair hung over her shoulders
Tied up with a black velvet band
One evening when I went out strolling, not meaning to go very far
I met a fickle young damsel, selling her trade in the bar
She took a watch from a customer, and slipped it right into my hand
And the law came and put me in prison, bad luck to the black velvet band
Her eyes, they shone like the diamonds
You'd think she was queen of the land
And her hair hung over her shoulders
Tied up with a black velvet band
Next morning, the judge and jury, for trial I had to appear
And the judge, he says "me young fellow, the case against you is quite clear
For seven long years is your sentence. You're going to Van Diemen's Land"
Far away from my friends and relations, I followed the black velvet band
Her eyes, they shone like the diamonds
You'd think she was queen of the land
And her hair hung over her shoulders
Tied up with a black velvet band
So, come all ye young lads and young fellows, I'll have you heed warning by me
And whenever you're out on the sweet liquor, my lads, beware of those pretty colleens
For they'll fill you with whiskey and porter, til you can not barely stand
And the very next thing that you know, my lads, you've landed in Van Diemen's Land
Her eyes, they shone like the diamonds
You'd think she was queen of the land
And her hair hung over her shoulders
Tied up with a black velvet band