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In a neat little town they call Brockton
Apprenticed in trade I was bound
And many an hour of sweet happiness
I spent in that neat little town
Then bad misfortune befell me
And caused me to stray from the land
Far away from my friends and companions
To follow the black velvet band
As I was out strolling one evening
Not intending to stay very long
And there met a frolicsome damsel
As she came tripping along
A watch she pulled out her pocket
And slipped it right into my hand
On the very first night that I met her
Bad luck to the black velvet band
Her eyes they shone like the diamonds
You'd think she was queen of the land
And her hair hung over her shoulder
Tied up in a black velvet band
Before judge and jury next morning
Both of us did appear
A gentleman claimed his jewelry
And the case against us was clear
Now seven long years transportation
Right down to Van Dieman's land
Far away from my friends and companions
To follow the black velvet band
Her eyes they shone like the diamonds
You'd think she was queen of the land
And her hair hung over her shoulder
Tied up in a black velvet band
So come all you jolly young fellows
I'll have you take warning by me
That whenever you're out on the liquor
Beware of the pretty Colleen
She'll fill you with whiskey and porter
Until you're not able to stand
And the very next thing that you know
You've landed in Van Dieman's Land
Her eyes they shone like the diamonds
You'd think she was queen of the land
And her hair hung over her shoulder
Tied up in a black velvet band
BLACK VELVET BAND!
Apprenticed in trade I was bound
And many an hour of sweet happiness
I spent in that neat little town
Then bad misfortune befell me
And caused me to stray from the land
Far away from my friends and companions
To follow the black velvet band
As I was out strolling one evening
Not intending to stay very long
And there met a frolicsome damsel
As she came tripping along
A watch she pulled out her pocket
And slipped it right into my hand
On the very first night that I met her
Bad luck to the black velvet band
Her eyes they shone like the diamonds
You'd think she was queen of the land
And her hair hung over her shoulder
Tied up in a black velvet band
Before judge and jury next morning
Both of us did appear
A gentleman claimed his jewelry
And the case against us was clear
Now seven long years transportation
Right down to Van Dieman's land
Far away from my friends and companions
To follow the black velvet band
Her eyes they shone like the diamonds
You'd think she was queen of the land
And her hair hung over her shoulder
Tied up in a black velvet band
So come all you jolly young fellows
I'll have you take warning by me
That whenever you're out on the liquor
Beware of the pretty Colleen
She'll fill you with whiskey and porter
Until you're not able to stand
And the very next thing that you know
You've landed in Van Dieman's Land
Her eyes they shone like the diamonds
You'd think she was queen of the land
And her hair hung over her shoulder
Tied up in a black velvet band
BLACK VELVET BAND!
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As with a lot of old 'folk' songs location is changed as it travelled around. The song "She is handsome she is pretty, she is the girl from Belfast City", may have originated in Cheshire, England; Red River valley, famous as a cowboy song is probably about and British soldier leaving his lover in the Canadian provinces; there are several versions of Pretty Saro sung in the Appalachian Mountains. This is a version from the south of England Wikipedia gives for this.
One day, being out on a ramble, alone by myself I did stray, I met with a young gay deceiver, while cruising in Ratcliffe Highway; Her eyes were as black as a raven, I thought her the pride of the land, Her hair, that did hang o'er her shoulders, was tied with a black velvet band.
The publication date of that version is probably between 1837 and 1853.
That's the great thing about folks music. It had no copyright and travelled with roving bands of players, on carriers carts or over the seas with sailors.
It's about the deportation of someone to Australia. Before the American revolution it was more common to send convicts to Virginia and the Carolinas. The history of folk music is the history of people. That's why it's so interesting.