Black Velvet Band

Song Information

Composer: Traditional

Lyric Author: Traditional

Published: Late 18th Century

Country of origin: England

General Interest

Although this song's origin is listed as England, versions have been gathered from all over England, as well as Ireland, Australia, Canada and the USA.

Although the lyrics and location vary, the context of the song remains largely the same in all versions. A young man becomes romantically involved with a woman, who steals a watch and places it in his pocket. He is subsequently arrested and sentenced to deportation to a penal colony, a common practice of the time.

Van Diemen's Land refers to the island Tasmania, off the south coast of Australia. The name was changed to Tasmania in 1856, though the last penal settlement closed in 1877.

The best known version of this song was by the Dubliners, on their 1964 LP "Chorus from the Gallows".

Here's a link to the Lyric:

Black Velvet Band Lyric

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