The Black Velvet Band
Encyclopedia
"The Black Velvet Band" is a traditional English
and Irish
folk song
describing transportation
to Australia
, a common punishment in 19th century Britain
and Ireland
. The song tells the story of a tradesman who meets a young woman who has stolen an item and passed it on to him (the lyrics of the song vary from place to place). The man then appears in court the next day, charged with stealing the item and is sent to Van Diemen's Land
for doing so. This song was adapted in the United States
to "The Girl In The Blue Velvet Band."
, Peter Kennedy
recorded a version in Belfast
in 1952. In 1959, a version was found in Australia. The collector G.B. Gardiner noted a version in Hampshire
in 1907. The first versions found were called "Tars of the Blanche" (the Blanche was a ship). A version by the publisher Swindells in Manchester
, is very wordy, and has no chorus. It places the events in Barking
, Essex
.
The first publication date of that version is 1819. There are at least twenty copies in the Bodleian library
.
"In a neat little town they call Belfast
" from the Black Velvet Band is replaced with "In Tralee in the sweet County Kerry
" (Black Ribbon Band).
Music of England
Folk music of England refers to various types of traditionally based music, often contrasted with courtly, classical and later commercial music, for which evidence exists from the later medieval period. It has been preserved and transmitted orally, through print and later through recordings...
and Irish
Music of Ireland
Irish Music is the generic term for music that has been created in various genres on the island of Ireland.The indigenous music of the island is termed Irish traditional music. It has remained vibrant through the 20th, and into the 21st century, despite globalizing cultural forces...
folk song
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
describing transportation
Penal transportation
Transportation or penal transportation is the deporting of convicted criminals to a penal colony. Examples include transportation by France to Devil's Island and by the UK to its colonies in the Americas, from the 1610s through the American Revolution in the 1770s, and then to Australia between...
to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, a common punishment in 19th century Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The song tells the story of a tradesman who meets a young woman who has stolen an item and passed it on to him (the lyrics of the song vary from place to place). The man then appears in court the next day, charged with stealing the item and is sent to Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land was the original name used by most Europeans for the island of Tasmania, now part of Australia. The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman was the first European to land on the shores of Tasmania...
for doing so. This song was adapted in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to "The Girl In The Blue Velvet Band."
Versions
While working for the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, Peter Kennedy
Peter Douglas Kennedy
Peter Douglas Kennedy was an English collector of folk songs in the 1950s. Peter's father, Douglas, was EFDSS director after Cecil Sharp....
recorded a version in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
in 1952. In 1959, a version was found in Australia. The collector G.B. Gardiner noted a version in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
in 1907. The first versions found were called "Tars of the Blanche" (the Blanche was a ship). A version by the publisher Swindells in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, is very wordy, and has no chorus. It places the events in Barking
Barking
Barking is a suburban town in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, in East London, England. A retail and commercial centre situated in the west of the borough, it lies east of Charing Cross. Barking was in the historic county of Essex until it was absorbed by Greater London. The area is...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
.
- 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 first publication date of that version is 1819. There are at least twenty copies in the Bodleian library
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library , the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library...
.
Alternative version
There is an alternative version of the song detailing the same story, to the same air, titled The Black Ribbon Band 1 It has many similarities to the more popular version, although with various changes. One such variation is the opening line, where the phrase"In a neat little town they call Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
" from the Black Velvet Band is replaced with "In Tralee in the sweet County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
" (Black Ribbon Band).
Recordings
- The Irish RoversThe Irish RoversThe Irish Rovers is a Canadian Irish folk group created in 1963 and named after the traditional song "The Irish Rover". The group is best known for their international television series, and renditions of traditional Irish drinking songs, as well as early hits, Shel Silverstein's "The Unicorn",...
on their album The UnicornThe UnicornThe Unicorn is the second album by Irish folk music group The Irish Rovers, released in 1967.The title track The Unicorn, a recording of Shel Silverstein's poem, reached #7 in the U.S...
. - The DublinersThe DublinersThe Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in 1962.-Formation and history:The Dubliners, initially known as "The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group", formed in 1962 and made a name for themselves playing regularly in O'Donoghue's Pub in Dublin...
on their album A Drop of the Hard StuffA Drop of the Hard StuffA Drop of the Hard Stuff is an album by The Dubliners. It was originally released in 1967 on Major Minor Records . When it was reissued, it was renamed Seven Drunken Nights because the first track became a hit single. The album cover provides biographical sketches of the band line-up: Ronnie Drew,...
, which reached number 16 on the UK Singles chartUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in 1967. - Ewan MacCollEwan MacCollEwan MacColl was an English folk singer, songwriter, socialist, actor, poet, playwright, and record producer. He was married to theatre director Joan Littlewood, and later to American folksinger Peggy Seeger. He collaborated with Littlewood in the theatre and with Seeger in folk music...
- Dropkick MurphysDropkick MurphysDropkick Murphys are an Irish-American punk rock band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1996. The band was initially signed to independent punk record label Hellcat Records, releasing five albums for the label, and making a name for themselves locally through constant playing and yearly St....
on their album BlackoutBlackout (Dropkick Murphys album)Blackout is the fourth studio album from Dropkick Murphys, released in 2003. It was released with a DVD, which contained live videos for "Rocky Road to Dublin" and "Boys on the Dock", a music video for "Gonna Be a Blackout Tonight", and a trailer for their then upcoming untitled full-length DVD,...
, this version differs slightly from the traditional. - Four to the BarFour to the BarFour to the Bar was an Irish band in New York City during the early to mid 1990s.From its beginnings as one more hard-drinking pub band from the boroughs, it ventured into a neotraditional fusion of pop, rock, and Irish and American folk....
on their live album Craic on the RoadCraic on the Road (album)Craic on the Road: Live at Sam Maguire's was the first full-length album by Four to the Bar, released in 1994.- Track listing :#I'll Tell Me Ma #Waxie's Dargle/The Rare Old Mountain Dew #My Love's in Germany...
, in a medley with "The Galway ShawlThe Galway Shawl"The Galway Shawl" is a traditional Irish folk song, concerning a rural courtship in the West of Ireland. The first known version was collected by Sam Henry from Bridget Kealey in Dungiven in 1936...
" and "The Wild RoverThe Wild RoverThe Wild Rover is a popular folk song whose origins are contested.According to Professor T. M. Devine in his book The Scottish Nation 1700 - 2000 the song was written as a temperance song. The song is found printed in a book, The American Songster, printed in the USA by W.A...
". - Bill MonroeBill MonroeWilliam Smith Monroe was an American musician who created the style of music known as bluegrass, which takes its name from his band, the "Blue Grass Boys," named for Monroe's home state of Kentucky. Monroe's performing career spanned 60 years as a singer, instrumentalist, composer and bandleader...
(as "Girl In The Blue Velvet Band") - Brobdingnagian BardsBrobdingnagian Bards-History:Marc Gunn, formerly of Austin Texas' alternative rock bands Skander and Breastfed, released a solo album featuring himself on autoharp and Andrew McKee on recorder in 1998...
on their album The Holy Grail of Irish Drinking SongsThe Holy Grail of Irish Drinking SongsThe Holy Grail of Irish Drinking Songs is a compilation of Irish drinking songs. Most of the songs are newly remastered from the Brobdingnagian Bards' previous albums A Faire to Remember, Songs of Ireland, Brobdingnagian Fairy Tales, and Marked by Great Size, although several are new recordings.-...
. - Bakerloo on the compilation Here's To The Irish, Vol. 2.
- The High KingsThe High KingsThe High Kings are an Irish ballad group. They were formed on Carick on Suir by Fibarr Clancy and Martin Furey.Brian Dunphy , and Broadway/pop/country singer Darren Holden were later recruited having wowed the world with their own solo careers on broadway in musical reviews, such as Riverdance...
on their album The High KingsThe High KingsThe High Kings are an Irish ballad group. They were formed on Carick on Suir by Fibarr Clancy and Martin Furey.Brian Dunphy , and Broadway/pop/country singer Darren Holden were later recruited having wowed the world with their own solo careers on broadway in musical reviews, such as Riverdance...
. - Seamus KennedySeamus KennedySeamus Kennedy is an Irish singer, comedian and writer.-Life:Kennedy has been entertaining audiences in the United States since the 1980s...
on his album By Popular Demand. - The Blackwater Boys on the album Irish Drinking Songs Vol. 2.
- Harry CoxHarry CoxHarry Fred Cox , was a Norfolk farmworker and one of the most important singers of traditional English music of the twentieth century, on account of his large repertoire and fine singing style....
on compilation album The Bonny Labouring Boy. - Gareth Davies-Jones on his album "Water & Light".
- Swagger on their album "Trouble On the Green".
- Cutthroat Shamrock on their eponymous album
- Martin Lignell, a Swedish folksinger, recorded the song under the name Silkesbandet (The Ribbon of Silk) on his first record in 2004, Irländska på Svenska - Levande Krabbor (Irish in Swedish - Living Crabs).
- The Sandsacks on their album Folk-Show
- The WigglesThe WigglesThe Wiggles are a children's group formed in Sydney, Australia in 1991. Their original members were Anthony Field, Phillip Wilcher, Murray Cook, Greg Page, and Jeff Fatt. Wilcher left the group after their first album...
on Sing a Song of Wiggles (2008) - Gael in the Harbor on "Leaving Van Dieman's Land"
- Firkin on their album Firkinful of Beer
- Andy StewartAndy Stewart (musician)Andrew "Andy" Stewart MBE was a Scottish singer and entertainer.-Career:The use of tartan patriotism and stereotypical Scottish humour goes back to Sir Harry Lauder and music hall songs. In the 1960s this strand was continued by the entertainer Andy Stewart.He was born in Glasgow, Scotland in...
recorded a parody "The Green Crystal Bag", about a man arrested for driving while drunk - the 'green crystal bag' being a type of breathalyser.