ARTHUR STACEY
Bathurst, NSW
1975
SITE SOURCE: Folklore Unit - People
The Black Velvet Band
Twas in the city of London,
In apprenticeship I was bound,
And many's the gay old hour,
I've spent in that dear old town.
One day as I was walking,
Along my usual beat,
A pretty little young maiden
Came tripping along the street.
Oh, 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 walking,
A gentlemen passed us by;
I could see she was up to some mischief
By the rolling of her dark blue eye.
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!
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."
Then it's over the dark and blue ocean,
Far away to Van Diemen's Land,
Far away from my friends and relations,
And the girl with the black velvet band.
