Her eyes they shone like diamonds I thought her the queen of the land And her hair it hung over her shoulder Tied up with a black velvet band In a neat little town they call Belfast Apprenticed to trade I was bound Many an hours sweet happiness Have I spent in that neat little town A 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 CHORUS: I took a stroll down Broadway Meaning not long for to stay When who should I meet but this pretty fair maid Come a trapsing along the highway She was both fair and handsome
Her neck it was just like a swan's And her hair it hung over her shoulder Tied up with a black velvet band CHORUS I took a stroll with this pretty fair maid And a gentleman pa**ing us by Well I knew she meant the doing of him By the look in her roguish black eye A gold watch she took from his pocket And slipped it right in to my hand And the very first thing that I said was Bad 'cess to the black velvet band CHORUS Seven long years penal servitude To be spent down in Van Diemen's Land Far away from my friends and relations Betrayed by the black velvet band CHORUS