Folk Key West

As I was walkin down Broadway
Not intending to stay very long
I met a frolicsome damsel
As she came trippin along
She was both fair and so pretty
Her neck it was white as a swan
And her hair hung over her  shoulders
Tied up with a Black Velvet Band

Her eyes, they shone like the diamonds
I thought her the queen of the land
And her hair hung over her shoulders
Tied up with a black velvet band

I took a stroll  with this young fair maid
When a gentleman, he passed us by
I know she had the tickin of him
By the look in her roguish black eye
Well, a gold watch she took from his pocket
And she put it right into my hands
And the very first day that I met her
Bad luck to the black velvet band

Well, we spored both judge and jury next morning
Both of us had to appear
The judge she said to me young man
Your case it is proven quite clear
Seven longs years transportation
To spend far away from the land
Far away from me friends and relations
Betrayed by the black velvet band

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'll fill you with whiskey and porter, until you're unable to stand
 And the very next thing that you'll know is you've landed in Van Diemens Land.

Traditional Lyrics

In a neat little town they call Belfast, apprentice to trade I was bound
 Many an hours’ sweet happiness, have I spent in that neat little town.
 A sad misfortune came or’e me, which caused me to stray from the land
 Far away from my 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 hung over her shoulder
 Tied up with a black velvet band

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 swans
 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 gold watch 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 companions, 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'll fill you with whiskey and porter, until you're unable to stand
 And the very next thing that you'll know is you've landed in Van Diemens Land.