Une chanson traditionnelle irlandaise que Katie, notre assistante d'anglais durant toute notre année de Terminale L, nous a faite découvrir.
" In a neat little town they call Belfast
Apprenticed to trade I was bound
And many an hours sweet happiness
That I spent in that neat little town
A sad misfortune came over me
Which caused me to stray from the land
Far away from me friends and relations
Betrayed by the black velvet band
CHORUS : Her eyes they shone like diamonds
I thought her the queen of the land
With her hair that hung over her shoulders
Tied up with a black velvet band
I took a stroll down Broadway
And meaning not long for to stay
When who should I meet but this pretty fair maid
Come a traipzing along the highway
She was both fair and handsome
And her neck it was just like a swan
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 undoing of him
By the look in her roguish black eye
A gold watch she took from his pocket
And placed it right into my hand
And the very next thing that I said was
Bad zest to the black velvet band
Before the judge and the jury
Next morning I had to appear
The judge he said to me 'young man
Your case it is proven clear'
We'll give you seven years penal servitude
To be spent far away from the land
Far away from your friends and relations
Betrayed by the black velvet band
So come all you jolly young fellows
And a warning take by me
When you were out on the town my lads
Beware of the pretty colleens
They'll feel you with strong drinks me lads
Until you are unable to stand
And the very first thing that you'll know is
You've landed in Van Diemen's land. "