BLACK  VELVET  BAND

 Time signature:  3/4                      With rhythm & lyrics slightly simplified
                                                        for "intermediate" learners.
Traditional
Accordion Notation
Beats per bar =  3
Beat symbol  =  Dot ( . ) or equivalent   
Inside row (low)  =  Buttons   2 - 5   plus  o3*
Accompanied by bass buttons o4, o3, i4 & i3
Chorus

  .5    |   :5           .5      |     .4      .4*    .5    |    :4*          .4~       | ~:
Her      eyes__  they     shone  like  the       di - a - monds     ______
(o3)      o4  o3    o3           o4     i3*    o3       i4*  i3*     o3         o4   o3
 
   .3*    |   .3       .3*    .4    |     .3      .2*  .o3*   |   .:2~              | ~.
You'd    think  she  was    queen  of    the       land______    ___ 
  o3*        o4     o3*   o3         o4    o3*    i3*         o4  o3    o3      o4
 
  .5    .4*   |   :4          .4     |  .2   .o3*   .2*   |    :3          .3*   |   :4
and  her     hair__  hung     o  - ver   her      sho__ -  ul    -  ders__
 o3    i3*      o4  o3    i3        o4    i3*   o3*      o4  o3    o3*      o4  o3
  
   .3    |   .3*   .4   .4*   |   .2*     .3   .3*    |   .:3~            | ~:
Tied      up  with  a      black  vel-vet       band_____   _____
  o3       o4    o3   i3*      o4*  o3  o3*          o4  o3  o3    o4 o3



Verse 1 of 4  (or 5)

.5    |    .5     .5    .5    |   .4      .4*     .5     |    .4*    :4~        | ~:
In       that  lit - tle      town  they  call       Bel - fast__    ______
o3       o4   o3   o3        o4     i3*     o3         i4*   o3   o3      o4   o3
 
 .3*  |   .3       .3*    .4    |     .3      .2*  .o3*   |   .:2~                | ~.
Ap  -  pren-ticed  to        trade   I    was       bound____     ___ 
o3*      o4     o3*   o3         o4    o3*    i3*        o4  o3   o3      o4
 
  :5     |         4    .4     .4     |    .2     .o3*   .2*      |    :3           .3*     |   :4
And__       man-y's   an       hour   of   sweet      hap___-  pi   -   ness__
o3  o3         o4   o3   o3         o4      i3*   o3*          o4  o3   o3*       o4  o3
  
   .3    |     .3*    .4     .4*   |   .2*    .3   .3*    |   .:3~            | ~.
Was      spent  in   that    neat   lit - tle       town_____   _____
  o3          o4    o3    i3*       o4*  o3   o3*       o4  o3  o3    o4 o3


.5    .5   |    :5         .5     |   .4      .4*     .5       |    :4*            .4    |  :4
Till   a      sad__   mis  -   for - tune  came       ov____ -   er      me___    
   o3         o4  o3   o3        o4      i3*     o3           i4*  i3*     o3      o4   o3
 
   .4      |     .3        .3*    .4    |     .3      .2*     .o3*   |    .:2~                | ~.
Which   caused  me    to       stray  from   the       land______     ___ 
   o3           o4      o3*   o3         o4     o3*     i3*         o4   o3   o3      o4
 
  .5   4*   |      4     .4     .4     |      .2      .o3*    .2*   |    :3           .3*     |   :4
Far   a   -   way  from  my     friends  and    re    -    la________-      tions__
o3    i3*       o4    o3     o3          o4       i3*    o3*       o4  o3   o3*         o4   o3
  
.3    |      .3*     .4    .4*   |     .2*     .3    .3*    |   .:3~            | ~:
Be  -   trayed  by  the      black  vel - vet      band_____   _____
o3          o4     o3   i3*         o4*    o3    o3*      o4  o3  o3    o4 o3

Embedded youTube VIDEOS

Total of 15 videos in various keys:  Ab=1    C=2    Db=1    D=2    D,E=1    Eb=1    E=2    G=5

There are many 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.
Key:  G

Singer:  Harry Hibbs

​Posted by:  quickaccent2006
Key:  G

Group:  Celtic Thunder

​Posted by:  Celtic Thunder
Key:  Ab

Group:    Irish Rovers

​Posted by:  ​John Kenton
Key:  G

Group:  The Dubliners

​Posted by:  The Dubliners
Key:   D

Singer:  Tony Archibald

Posted by:  threelegsoman
Key:  C

Group:  Eanair

Singer:  Mary Cathrine Hayes

​Posted by:  Mary Catherine Hayes
​                    in Tennessee
Key:  E

Group:   Slainte

Posted by:  Carl Winter

​This group is from Clarenville, NL (Canada)
​
Key:  Eb

Singer:  Paddy Reilly

Posted by: machree01
Key:  C

Singer: Allison Crowe

Posted by: Allison Crowe

​Great performance!
Key:  D

Group:  Possibly Irish
Singers:  Makaio Caudel & Emma Ulveland
​Musicians:  Abby Ulveland, Susan Vasley & Cabeau Schuerger

Posted by:  Possibly Irish
Key:  E

Singer:  Ewan MacColl 
​             (with backing by Peggy Seegar)

Posted by:  Ewan MacColl - Topic
Key:  D  from time 0 to 2:55
          E  from 2:56 to  End

Group:  Foster & Allen  

​Posted by:  vincent donnelly

Somewhat different lyrics than given above.​

From their album "Sing the Sixties"
Key:  G?

Accordionists:  Hector & Rob
​                         (Australia)

Posted by: bertosvids

Not quite matched to the accordion notation above, but still great.
Key:  C# (=Db) from time 0 to 0:50
       Then the tune changes

Accordionist:   Chris Whelan ?

Posted by:  sneezey 101

​Playing a Hohner Tri-chord, with rows BCC#.  
Key:  G

Player:  Mel Biggs  

​Posted by:  Mel Biggs Music

Sounds like a DG button accordion

Click here to access Mel Biggs' music web site. 
Background Materials, Information & Links
​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.
​
Background and Links:
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.