The Black Velvet Band is traditional folk Australian song . The composer and origin of the song is unknown.
The Black Velvet Band is a song well known amongst sailors of Britain, Ireland, North America and Australia and dates to around the 1840s.
The song’s origin is unknown, but probably comes from either England or Ireland.
Then why Aussie?
I am often criticized by non-Aussies for saying the song is Australian. There are so many different versions of this song being sung over the past 140+ years that no one country can say they wrote them all.
So I’ve added this one version to our Australian song list. Just as with Pavlova, I’d rather sit back, smile and enjoy it. Life’s just too short to argue over such things.
Now back to the song …
This the story of an apprentice who meets a girl with her hair is tied up in a black velvet band. One day while they’re walking she steals a man’s watch and plants the evidence on the apprentice.
The crime is discovered and he is convicted. Punishment is being sent to Van Diemen’s Land, which is what they first called Tasmania. The reference to Van Diemen’s Land is telling you he’s going to off in a convict ship to Tasmania, Australia.
An American version of the song is called The Blue Velvet Band.
It was in the city of London
In apprenticeship I was bound
And many’s the gay old hour
I spent in that dear old town
And her eyes they shone like diamonds
I thought her the pride of the land
The hair that hung down on her shoulder
Was tied with a black velvet band
One day as I was walking
Along my usual beat
A pretty little young maiden
Came tripping along the street
And her eyes they shone like diamonds
I thought her the pride of the land
The hair that hung down on her shoulder
Was tied with a black velvet band
One day as we were a walking
A gentleman passed us by
I could see she was bent on some mischief
By the rolling of her dark blue eye
And her eyes they shone like diamonds
I thought her the pride of the land
The hair that hung down on her shoulder
Was tied with a black velvet band
Gold watch she picked from his pocket
And slyly placed into my hand
I was taken in charge by a copper
Bad luck to that black velvet band
And her eyes they shone like diamonds
I thought her the pride of the land
The hair that hung down on her shoulder
Was tied with a black velvet band
Before the Lord Mayor I was taken
Your case, sir, I plainly can see
And if I’m not greatly mistaken
You’re bound far over the sea
And her eyes they shone like diamonds
I thought her the pride of the land
The hair that hung down on her shoulder
Was tied with a black velvet band
It’s over the dark and blue ocean
Far away to Van Diemen’s Land
Away from my friends and relations
And the girl with the black velvet band
And her eyes they shone like diamonds
I thought her the pride of the land
The hair that hung down on her shoulder
Was tied with a black velvet band
