Black Velvet Band
From the singing of Carrie Milliner and the Bobbin
Family.
Black Velvet Band
(Traditional)
Arranged by Chloe and Jason Roweth.
Quite a few well known traditional Australian songs were sung by Carrie, often with interesting variations - this version of the Black Velvet Band has a particularly lovely tune. Similar lyrics have been collected by Alex Hood from Toby Willis, W.A., and published in John Meredith's Folk Songs of Australia (Vol.1).It was in the city of London, in apprenticeship I was bound,
And many a 'gaily' old hour I spent in that dear little town.
One day as I was walking along my usual beat,
I saw a pretty young maiden, a-tripping along the street.
Chorus
And her eyes they shone like diamonds,
And I though her the pride of the land,
And her hair hung down to her shoulders,
Tied up with a black velvet band.
One day as we were walking, a gentleman passed us by,
I could see she was bent on some mischief by the look in her rolling blue eye,
A watch she took from his pocket, and slyly slipped into my hand,
I was taken in by the copper, bad luck to the black velvet band.
Before the Lord Mayor I was taken, "Your piece, Sir, I bid you can see,
And if I'm not greatly mistaken, you're bound for over the sea."
Then it's over the dark and blue ocean, far away to that evil land,
Far away from my friends & relations, and the girl with the black velvet band.