3/4 Time   Strum: Base Down Down

Chorus:
        G         G              G        G
    Her eyes they shone like the diamonds
          G             G            D7   D7
    You'd think she was queen of the land
            G         G        Em       Em
    And her hair hung over her shoulder
         C         D7           G    G
    Tied up with a black velvet band.

     G           G              G       G
In a neat little town they call Belfast
  G            G           D7    D7
Apprenticed to trade I was bound
    G       G            Em        Em
And many an hour's sweet happiness
  C             D7          G    G
I spent in that neat little town.
     G      G            G       G
Till bad misfortune came o'er me
     G            G              D7   D7
That caused me to stray from the land
     G           G              Em     Em
Far away from me friends and relations
   C          D7           G     G
To follow the black velvet band.

Chorus

      G         G             G       G
Well, I was out strolling one evening
    G          G       D7   D7
Not meaning to go very far
       G          G            Em     Em
When I met with a pretty young damsel
        C           D7           G    G
Who was selling her trade in the bar.
       G          G           G        G
When a watch, she took from a customer
    G                G       D7   D7
And slipped it right into my hand
         G              G         Em     Em
Then the Watch came and put me in prison
    C           D7           G     G
Bad luck to her black velvet band.

Chorus

     G         G              G     G
Next morning before judge and jury
      G       G        D7    D7
For a trial I had to appear
        G         G                Em         Em
And the judge, he said, "You young fellows...
    C            D7           G     G
The case against you is quite clear
    G          G             G        G
And seven long years is your sentence
       G        G            D7   D7
You're going to Van Dieman's Land
     G             G              Em     Em
Far away from your friends and relations
   C          D7           G       G
To follow the black velvet band.

Chorus

   G            G           G       G
So come all you jolly young fellows
    G             G          D7  D7
I'd have you take warning by me
    G           G          Em         Em
Whenever you're out on the liquor, me lads,
  C           D7         G    G
Beware of the pretty Colleen.
       G             G           G       G
She'll fill you with whiskey and porter
  G              G       D7    D7
Until you're not able to stand
        G         G                 Em       Em
And the very next thing that you'll know, me lads,
       C         D7           G      G
You're landed in Van Dieman's Land.

Chorus