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BLACK VELVET BAND (traditional)

D                                          G                                     A
In a neat little town they call Belfast, apprenticed in trade I was bound,

D                                                            A                             D

And many an hour of sweet happiness, have I spent in that neat little town

D                                          G                                     A
Till bad misfortune befell me, and caused me to stray from the land

D                                                      A                                D

Far away from my friends and relations, to follow the black velvet band

Chorus
      D                                                     G                                        A
Her eyes they shone like the diamonds, I thought her the queen of the land
       D                                                         A                 D
Her hair hung over her shoulder, tied up in a black velvet band

I took a stroll down Broadway, meaning not long for to stay
When who should I meet but this pretty fair maid, come a-traipsing along the highway
She was both fair and handsome, her neck it was just like a swan
And her hair hung over her shoulder, tied up with a black velvet band
Chorus
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 gold watch she took from his pocket , and slipped it right into my hand
And the very next thing that I said was, bad luck to the black velvet band
Chorus
Before the judge and the jury, next morning I had to appear
The judge, he said to me, "Young man The 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” 
Chorus
So come all you jolly young fellows, a warning take by me
When you are out on the town me lads, beware of the pretty colleen
They'll fill your with strong drink me lads, until you're unable to stand
And the very next thing that you’ll know is, you've landed in Van Dieman's Land
Chorus
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   One of the many European transportation songs. Australia was quickly populated by draconian English courts, which tore families apart in all parts of the empire, often for crimes as trivial as poaching or petty theft. 'The hat with the balack velvet band' is a version of this song found amonst Tasmanian whalers.

The earliest publication date known for Black Velvet Band is 1910; the earliest for Blue Velvet Band is 1927. Any earlier ones (for either) would be much appreciated. 

2 versions have nbeen found in the Bodleian library's online collection. The first is from Swindells (Manchester) who published broadsides between 1796 and 1853. Since it mentions Victoria, it is unlikely that it is before about 1825 or so, though she was quite a fashionable young lady before she became queen in 1837, so it could have been printed earlier than that. The second version, more or less exactly the same words as the first, was published by H. Such of 177 Union Street, Boro, London SE. Such published broadsides between 1863 and 1885, so it is certain that this was a copy of the Swindells broadsheet.

Checking the Ron Edwards broadside research books I mentioned above. The books are The Convict Maid, Australian Folklore - Occasional Paper No 16, Ron Edwards, Rams Skull Press, Kuranda, 1985 and The Transport's Lament, Australian Folklore - Occasional Paper No 17, Ron Edwards, Rams Skull Press, Kuranda, 1985. The Black Velvet Band only appears in the first, in versions from Glasgow and Dublin collections and dated after 1838 (which would agree with the "Victoria fashion reference). All three examples give the home town as Barking (as in IanC's posting above) and Ron Ewards gives the first two examples as being printed by (Ryle) & Co, Printers, 2 & 3 Monmouth Court, Seven Dials.

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