Her eyes, they shone like the diamonds. You'd think she was queen of the land, And her hair hung over her shoulders, Tied up with a black velvet band. In a neat little town they call Belfast, apprentice to trade I was bound. And many an hour of sweet happiness I spent in that neat little town. But bad misfortune came o'er me, and caused me to stray from the land Far away from my friends and relations. They follow the black velvet band. Her eyes, they shone like the diamonds. You'd think she was queen of the land, And her hair hung over her shoulders, Tied up with a black velvet band. Well, I went out strolling one evening, not meaning to go very far, When I met with a frolicksome damsel. She was selling her trade in the bar. A watch she took from a customer, and slipped it right into my hand. Then the law came and put me in prison. Bad luck to her black velvet band! Her eyes, they shone like the diamonds. You'd think she was queen of the land, And her hair hung over her shoulders, Tied up with a black velvet band. Next morning, before judge and jury, for trial I had to appear. And the judge, he said "my young fellow, the case against you is quite clear. And seven long years is your sentence. You're going to Van Diemen's Land, Far away from your friends and relations. They follow the black velvet band." Her eyes, they shone like the diamonds. You'd think she was queen of the land, And her hair hung over her shoulders, Tied up with a black velvet band. Now, come all ye jolly young fellows, I'll have you take warning by me. And whenever you're out on the liquor, my lads, beware of the pretty colleens. For they'll fill you with whiskey and porter, til you are not able to stand. And the very next thing that you know, my lads, you've landed in Van Diemen's Land. Her eyes, they shone like the diamonds. You'd think she was queen of the land, And her hair hung over her shoulders, Tied up with a black velvet band

Her eyes they shown like the diamonds you'd think she Was queen of the land and her hair fell over her shoulder Tied up with a black velvet band. In a neat little town they called Belfast Apprentice to trade I was bound, And many an hour sweet happiness I spent in that neat Little town. Till bad misfortune came o'er me that Caused me to stray from the land far away from me friends And relations did follow the black velvet band. Her eyes they shown like the diamonds you'd think she Was queen of the land and her hair fell over her shoulder Tied up with a black velvet band. Well I went out strolling one evening, Not meanin to go very far when I met with a fickle Young damsel she was sellin her trade in the bar. When I watched she took from a customer she slipped It right into my hand then the law came and put me In prison bad luck to her black velvet band. Her eyes they shown like the diamonds you'd think she Was queen of the land and her hair fell over her shoulder Tied up with a black velvet band. Next morning before judge and jury for trial I had To appear and the judge he says me young fellow the Case against you is quite clear and sever long years Is your sentence your goin to vandyman's land far away From your friends and relations did follow the black velvet band. Her eyes they shown like the diamonds you'd think she Was queen of the land and her hair fell over her shoulder Tied up with a black velvet band. So come all ye jolly young fellows I'll have you take Warnin by me and when ever your out on the liquor me Lads beware of the pretty colleens for they'll fill You with whisky and porter till you are not able to Stand and the very next thing that you know me lads You've landed in vandyman's land. Her eyes they shown like the diamonds you'd think she Was queen of the land and her hair fell over her shoulder Tied up with a black velvet band. Her eyes they shown like the diamonds you'd think she Was queen of the land and her hair fell over her shoulder Tied up with a black velvet band.

All of my dreams seem to fall by the side Like a discarded thought or the day's fading light But I know that if I could just see you tonight Forever At times we may fall, like we all tend to do But I'll reach out and find that I've run into you Your strength is the power that carried me through Forever Your kindness for weakness I never mistook I worried you often, yet you understood That life is so fleeting, these troubles won't last Forever You inspired me truly you did from the start To not be afraid and to follow my heart There's a piece of you with me they can't tear apart Forever At times we may fall, like we all tend to do but your strength is the power that carried me through Forever Forever I'll find you, forever we'll be Forever your power and strength stays with me Forever I'll find you, forever we'll be Forever your power and strength stays with me Forever I'll find you, forever we'll be Forever your power and strength stays with me Forever I'll find you, forever we'll be Forever your power and strength stays with me Forever Forever Forever Forever

May the road rise to meet you May the wind be at your back Yeah, that's what dear old dad would say Remember your old man When you've finally had your moment Should fame and fortune come your way I wouldn't trade your wisdom, dad I thank you for your time You said "Son, keep on working 'til the stars one day align" But maybe luck don't seem to shine On stubborn fools like me and you Make the most of what they give you To yourself you must be true To yourself you must be true And we'll live To fight another day If things don't always go our way And we'll live To fight another day That's what my old man would say May the spirits all be with you May the Devil turn his back When the day is at its darkest and anxiety attacks Call on me to see you through it Call on me to be your guide I'll be there, son, when you need me I'll be standing by your side I'll be standing by your side And we'll live To fight another day Things don't always go our way And we'll live To fight another day Yeah, that's what my old man would say My hero, my heart My hero, my heart My hero, my heart My hero, my heart To yourself you must be true To yourself you must be true And we'll live To fight another day If things don't always go our way And we'll live To fight another day That's what my old man would say My hero My hero

When they kick at your front door How you gonna come? With your hands on your head Or on the trigger of your gun When the law break in How you gonna go? Shot down on the pavement Or waiting on death row You can crush us You can bruise us But you'll have to answer to Oh, the guns of Brixton The money feels good And your life you like it well But surely your time will come As in heaven, as in hell You see, he feels like Ivan Born under the Brixton sun His game is called survivin' At the end of the harder they come You know it means no mercy They caught him with a gun No need for the Black Maria Goodbye to the Brixton sun You can crush us You can bruise us But you'll have to answer to Oh, the guns of Brixton When they kick at your front door How you gonna come? With your hands on your head Or on the trigger of your gun You can crush us You can bruise us You can even shoot us Oh, the guns of Brixton Shot down on the pavement Waiting in death row His game is called survivin' As in heaven as in hell You can crush us You can bruise us But you'll have to answer to Oh, the guns of Brixton Oh, the guns of Brixton Oh, the guns of Brixton Oh, the guns of Brixton Oh, the guns of Brixton

I keep my fist raised up full time against the world Sometimes with the family and sometimes with a girl Yeah, you think I've learned my lesson, I'm a man who's been around But I could never keep that middle finger down Well, I'm still hanging on, and I think God takes care of fools I broke a lotta hearts and I broke a lotta rules Yet somehow I survived with a bit of dummy luck But I could never keep that finger from sticking up I could never keep, I could never keep I could never keep my life from burning to the ground You think I've learned my lesson, I'm a man who's been around But I could never keep that middle finger down I'm a grudge-holding jerk who starts feuds with a wink A sharp-tongued S.O.B who speaks before he thinks I've learned from my losses and I know when I'm wrong Still, my life's sadder than an old country song I could never keep, I could never keep I could never keep my life from burning to the ground You think I've learned my lesson, I'm a man who's been around But I could never keep that middle finger down So if you looked at my life, if you took a little peek You'd say, "Good Lord, let it go, man, just turn the other cheek" I don't know how to let it go, I just don't know how to behave I was born with this affliction, and I'll take it to the grave I could never keep, I could never keep I could never keep my life from burning to the ground You think I've learned my lesson, I'm a man who's been around But I could never keep that middle finger down I could never keep (no), I could never keep (no) I could never keep my life from burning to the ground You think I've learned my lesson, I'm a man who's been around But I could never keep that middle finger down