G
    Well, in a neat little town they call Belfast,
                   C           D
    apprentice to trade I was bound,
     G
    many an hour sweet happiness
             A            D          G
    have I spent in that neat little town.

    A sad misfortune came over me,
                          C            D
    which caused me to stray from the land.
          G
    far away from my friends and relations,
        A             D           G
    betrayed by the black velvet band.

     G
Her eyes they shone like diamonds,
                    C          D
I thought her the queen of the land,
         G
and her hair it hung over her shoulder,
      A          D           G
tied up with a black velvet band.

       G                                        C           D
    I took a stroll down Broadway, meaning not long for to stay,
          G
    when who should I meet but this pretty fair maid,
             A         D             G
    come a traipsing along the high way.
    She was both fair and handsome,
                      C           D
    her neck it was just like a swan's.
            G
    And her hair it hung over her shoulder,
          A           D           G
    tied up with  a black velvet band.

       G
    I took a stroll with this pretty fair maid,
                     C         D
    and a gentleman passing us by.
              G
    Well, I knew she meant the doing of him,
             A         D              G
    by the look in her roguish black eye.
    A gold watch she took from his pocket,
                         C       D
    and placed it right into my hand,
             G
    And the very first thing that I said was:
          A            D           G
    'Bad cess to the black velvet band'.

       G
    Before the judge and the jury
                    C        D
    next morning I had to appear.
         G
    The judge he says to me, 'Young man,
          A           D      G
    your case it is proven clear.
    We'll give you seven years penal servitude,
                      C            D
    to be spent far away from the land,
          G
    far away from your friends and companions,
        A            D            G
    betrayed by the black velvet band'.