Verse 1:

In a [G]neat little town they call Belfast

Apprenticed to [C]trade I was [D]bound,

[G]Many an hour sweet happiness

Have I [Am]spent in that [D]neat little [G]town.

'Till a sad misfortune came o'er me,

And caused me to [C]stray from the [D]land.

Far a[G]way from my friends and relations,

Be[Am]trayed by the [D]black velvet [G]band.

Chorus:

Her [G]eyes they shone like diamonds,

I thought her the [C]queen of the [D]land,

And her [G]hair hung over her shoulder,

Tied [Am]up with a [D]black velvet [G]band.

Verse 2:

I [G]took a stroll down Broadway,

Meaning not [C]long for to [D]stay,

When [G]who should I meet but this pretty fair maid,

Come a [Am]traipsing a[D]long the high[G]way.

She was both fair and handsome,

Her neck it was [C]just like a [D]swan's.

And her [G]hair hung over her shoulder,

Tied [Am]up with a[D]black velvet [G]band.

Chorus

Verse 3:

I [G]took a stroll with this pretty fair maid,

And a gentleman [C]passing us [D]by.

Well, I [G]knew she meant the doing of him,

By the [Am]look in her [D]roguish black [G]eye.

A gold watch she took from his pocket,

And placed it [C]right into my [D]hand,

And the [G]very first thing that I said was:

"Bad [Am]cess to the [D]black velvet [G]band".

Chorus

Verse 4:

Be[G]fore the judge and the jury

Next morning I [C]had to ap[D]pear.

The [G]judge he says to me, "Young fellow,

The [Am]case against [D]you is quite [G]clear.

Seven long years is your sentence,

To be spent far a[D]way from this [D]land,

Far a[G]way from your friends and relations,

Be[Am]trayed by the [D]black velvet [G]band".

Chorus