The song is quite easy to play and goes well with a waltz rythm (one two thre, one two three..) I just added a few chord changes to make it even nicer to sing along.

In^G a neat little town they call Belfast apprenticed to ^Ctrade I was b^Dound G Am Em ^DAnd many an ^Ghour of sweet happiness I spent in that neat little town Then a^G bad misfortune came over me and caused me to st^Cray from the l^Dand G Am Em ^DFar away fro^Gm me friends and rela_tions I followed the Black Velvet Band.

Chorus:

He^Gr eyes they shone like diamonds I thought her the qu^Ceen of the la^Dnd And her hai^Gr it hung over her sh^Amoulders Tied u^Emp with a blac^Dk velvet ban^Gd

I took a stroll down Broadway, meaning not long for to stay When who should I meet but this pretty fair maid comes a tripping along the highway She was both fair and handsome, her neck it was just like a swans And her hair it hung over her shoulder, tied up with a 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 I took a stroll with this pretty fair maid, and a gentleman passing us by Well I knew she meant the doing of him, by the look in her roguish black eye A goldwatch she took from his pocket and placed it right in to my hand And the very first thing that I said was bad luck to the 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 Before the judge and the jury, next morning I had to appear The judge he says to me: "Young man, your case it is proven clear We'll give you seven years penal servitude, to be spent faraway from the land Far away from your friends and companions, betrayed by the 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 So come all you jolly young fellows a warning take by me When you are out on the town me lads, beware of them pretty colleens For they feed you with strong drink, "Oh yeah", 'til you are unable to stand And the very next thing that you'll know is you've landed in Van Diemens Land 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