„The Black Velvet Band“ (Roud Nummer 2146) ist ein traditionelles Volkslied, das von Sängern aus Irland, Australien, England, Kanada und den Vereinigten Staaten gesammelt wurde und beschreibt, wie ein junger Mann betrogen und dann zum Transport nach Australien verurteilt wird das britische Empire im 19. Jahrhundert.
Der Erzähler ist Lehrling in einer Stadt (die in verschiedenen Versionen variiert) gebunden. Er verliebt sich romantisch in eine junge Frau. Sie stiehlt eine Uhr und steckt sie in seine Tasche oder in seine Hand. Der Lehrling erscheint am nächsten Tag vor Gericht und wird in Van Diemens Land (Tasmanien) zu sieben Jahren Haft verurteilt. In derr usprünglichen ist die Motivation der jungen Frau offensichtlicher – sie hat einen Seemann getroffen und möchte ihren Geliebten loswerden.
In der ursprünglichen Version findet die Aktion auf dem Ratcliffe Highway statt, einer Straße im East End von London, aber in gesammelten Versionen werden verschiedene Orte erwähnt – London, Belfast, Tralee, eine Stadt in Bedfordshire und in Dunmanway, Co. Cork. Einige ostanglische Sänger spielen in Belfast und andere in London
Text:
In a neat little town they called Belfast
Apprentice to trade I was bound
And many an hour’s sweet happiness
Have I spent in that neat little town
As 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 shown 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 down broadway
Meaning not long for to stay
When who should I meet but this pretty fair maid
Come a-traipsing along the highway
She was both fair and handsome
Her neck, it was just like a swan
And her hair, it hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band
Her eyes they shown 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
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 into my hand
And the very first thing that I said, was
Bad ‚cess to the black velvet band
Her eyes they shown 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
Before the judge and the jury
Next morning, I had to appear
The judge, he says to me
„Young man, you’re case it 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 shown 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 you jolly young fellows
A warning take by me
When you are out on the town, me lads
Beware of the pretty Colleens
They’ll feed you with strong drink, me lads
‚Til you are unable to stand
And the very first thing that you’ll know is
You’ve landed in Van Diemens Land
Her eyes they shown like diamonds
Her neck, it was just like a swan
And her hair, it hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band
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