| Her eyes they shone like diamonds
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| I thought her the queen of the land
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| And her hair it hung over her shoulder
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| Tied up with a black velvet band
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| In a neat little town they call Belfast
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| Apprenticed in trade I was bound
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| And a many an hour of sweet happiness
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| I spent in that neat little town
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| 'til bad misfortune befell me
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| And caused me to stray from the land
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| Far away from my friends and relations
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| To follow a black velvet band
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| 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
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| Oh, I was out strolling on Broadway
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| Meaning not long for to stay
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| When I met with a pretty fair maiden
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| Come troppsing along the highway
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| A gold watch she stole from a gentleman
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| And put it right into my hand
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| Then the watch came and put me in prison
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| Bad luck to the black velvet band
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| 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
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| Next morning before judge and jury
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| For up trial I had to appear
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| And the judge he said: Young fellow
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| The case against you is quite clear"
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| And seven long years is your sentence
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| You’re going to Van Dieman’s land
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| Far away from your friends and relations
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| To follow that black velvet band
 | 
| 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
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| So come all ye jolly young fellows
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| A warning take by me
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| That whenever you’re out on the liquor
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| Beware of them pretty colleens
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| They’ll fool you with whiskey and porter
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| Until you’re not able to stand
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| And the very next thing that you know, my lads
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| You’ve landed in Van Dieman’s land |