The lyrics to the Black Velvet Band vary slightly from town to town in Ireland and there are also versions to be found in England and Scotland.
Black Velvet Band
Black Velvet Band videos
There is a popular Irish version set in Tralee, and in England the town is often given as London. In all the versions, however, the lyrics tell the same basic story.
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A young man is out walking in the town. He meets a woman who hands him some stolen jewellery and he ends up in court. He’s then sentenced to seven years penal servitude.
The chords are presented here in the key of G Major. If you place a capo on the second fret you will be playing in A Major. A capo on the fifth frets takes the key up to C Major. Use our chord converter to play the song in other keys.
Chorus
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 swan’s,
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 relations,
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
Black Velvet Band
Black Velvet Band Videos
Black Velvet Band lyrics and chords
Black Velvet Band lyrics and chords print version
Chorus
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 swan’s
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 relations,
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
Black Velvet Band
Black Velvet Band Videos
Black Velvet Band lyrics and chords
