In a neat little town they call Belfast, apprenticed to trade I was bound
And many's the hour of sweet happiness, I spent in that neat little town
Till sad misfortune came over 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 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 with this pretty fair maid, and a gentleman passing us by
I knew she meant the undoing of me, by the look in her roguish black eye
A gold watch she took from his pocket, and she placed it right into me hand
And the very first thing that I thought was, bad luck to the black velvet band
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
Now before a judge and a jury, next morning I had to appear
Oh the judge he said to me "Young man, your case is proven clear
We'll give you seven years' penal servitude, to be spent far away from the land.
Far away from your friends and relations, betrayed by the black velvet band
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
So come all ye jolly young fellows, and a warning take by me
For when you are out on the town me lads, beware of them pretty colleens
For they'll feed you with strong ale "More Yeah", until you are unable to stand
And the very next thing that you know me lads, is you've landed in Van Diemen's Land
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
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