BLACK VELVET BAND
Basic BA1 - Unit 3 (Practice) Song-Melody
Traditional Folk Song (Ireland, England, Australia)
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Accordion Notation
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Buttons 5 to 8
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Place first finger at button 5 and little finger at button 8, covering all four buttons without having to shift your hand.
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The Chorus (for Practice in Unit 4)
.8 :8 .8 .7 .8* .8 .8* ::7
Her eyes they shone like the dia - monds
.7* .6 .7* .7 .6 .6* .5* .::5
You'd think she was queen of the land
"8 "8* :7 .7 .5 .5* .6* :6 .7* :7
And her hair hung o - ver her sho'ul - ders
.6 .7* .7 .8* .6* .6 .7* ::6
Tied up with a black vel-vet band
Verse 1 of several - For future reference, NOT Part of Unit 4 Practice.
"8 "8 .8 .8 .8 .7 .8* .8 .8* ::7
In the neat lit - tle town they call Bel - fast
.7* .6 .7* .7 .6 .6* .5* ::5
Ap - pren-ticed to trade I was bound
.8 .8* .7 .7 .7 .5 .5* .6* :6 .7* :7
An'd man-y's an hour of sweet hap- pi - ness
"6 "6 .7* .7 .8* .6* .6 .7* ::6
Have I spent in that neat lit - tle town
.8 .8 :8 .8 .7 .8* .8 :8* .7 :7
Till a sad mis - for - tune came ov - er me
.7 .6 .7* .7 .6 .6* .5* ::5
Which caused me to stray from the land
.8 .8* .7 .7 .7 .5 .5* .6* :6 .7* :7
Far a - way from my friends and re - la___ - tions
.6 .7* .7 .8* .6* .6 .7* ::6
Be - trayed by the black vel-vet band
Embedded youTube VIDEOS
Total of 8 videos in various keys: G=3 C=2 D=3 (Sorry, I couldn't find any in key of A)
There are at least several dozen versions of the lyrics for this folk-song, collected from different countries (and regions), but most follow the same general story line and the same music (except for some small variations, mostly in tempo and occasionally rhythm). This also applies to the videos below.
Total of 8 videos in various keys: G=3 C=2 D=3 (Sorry, I couldn't find any in key of A)
There are at least several dozen versions of the lyrics for this folk-song, collected from different countries (and regions), but most follow the same general story line and the same music (except for some small variations, mostly in tempo and occasionally rhythm). This also applies to the videos below.
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Key: G
Singer: Harry Hibbs Posted by: quickaccent2006 Order: CHORUS Verse 1 CHORUS Verse 2 CHORUS - Instrumental Verse 3 Verse 4 Verse 5 |
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Key: G
Group: Celtic Thunder Posted by: Celtic Thunder Order: Verse 1 + Verse 2 CHORUS Verse 3 CHORUS Verse 4 CHORUS |
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Key: G
Group: The Dubliners Posted by: The Dubliners Order: Verse 1 CHORUS Verse 2 CHORUS Verse 3 CHORUS Verse 4 CHORUS |
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Key: C
Group: Eanair Singer: Mary Cathrine Hayes Posted by: Mary Catherine Hayes in Tennessee |
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Key: C
Singer: Allison Crowe Posted by: Allison Crowe Great performance! |
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Key: D
Singer: Tony Archibald Posted by: threelegsoman |
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Key: D
Group: Possibly Irish Singers: Makaio Caudel & Emma Ulveland Musicians: Abby Ulveland, Susan Vasley & Cabeau Schuerger Posted by: Possibly Irish |
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Key: D from time 0 to 2:55
(For the final minute, they ramp it up to the key of E.) Group: Foster & Allen Posted by: vincent donnelly Somewhat different lyrics than given above. Same theme, however. From their album "Sing the Sixties" |
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Background Materials, Information & Links
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Lyrics:
(Harry Hibbs version) Verse 1 Verse 2 Verse 3 Verse 4 Verse 5 |
Chorus: Her eyes they shone like a diamond,
You'd think she was queen of the land; And her hair hung over her shoulders, Tied up with a black velvet band. In the neat little town they call Belfast, Apprenticed to trade I was bound; And many's an hour of sweet happiness, Have I spent in that sweet little town. Till sad misfortune came over me, Which caused me to stray from the land; Far away from my friends and relations, Betrayed by the black velvet band. As I was strolling down Broadway, Meaning not long for to stay; When who should I see but this pretty fair maid, Come a-traipsing' along the highway. She was both fair and handsome, And her neck it was just like a swan; And her hair hung over her shoulders, Tied up with a black velvet band. As I was courtin' this pretty fair maid, And a gentlemen passin' us by; I knew she meant the doing of him, By the look in her roguish black eyes. A gold watch she took from his pocket, And placed it right into me hand; And the very next thing that I said was, Bad luck to the black velvet band. 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 quite clear. I'll give you seven years at hard labour, To be served far away from this land." Far away from my friends and relations, Betrayed by the black velvet band. So, come all you jolly young fellows, A warning you'll take by me; Whenever you're out on the town, my lads, Beware of the pretty colleens. They'll fill you up with some drink, my lads, Till you are unable to stand; And the very next thing that you'll know is, You've landed in Van Dieman's Land. NOTE: Some performers reduce the number of verses, keeping the same general story, and some do the chorus only at beginning and end. |
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Background and Links:
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This folk-song's story (and perhaps the song itself) most likely predates 1855, the year that the name "Van Dieman's Land" was changed to "Tasmania".
There are at least 100 versions of the lyrics for this song, collected from different regions (and countries), but most follow the same story line (though with different words) and the same music (except for some minor rhythm and tempo variations). While I haven't listened to all the online youTube performances, the many that I checked, including those embedded above, were all different in one way or another. This is common for older folk songs. The original song may, or may not, have been Irish. However, today it is primarily referred to as an Irish folk-song. Click HERE for additional (wikipedia) info about this song. |