I know a completely different version, actually called "Black Ribbon Band", from Emily Mitchell's "Irish Harp Songs" CD. She has good versions of some really obscure old songs, so I'd guess it's a relatively early version (though Irish), but I don't know; it's just different enough that I thought it was worth posting.

It was in the town of Tralee, an apprentice to trade I was bound,
With a plenty of bright amusements for to make the days go round,
Till misfortune and ruin came over me, which caused me to stray from my land,
Far away from my friends and companions, to follow her black ribbon band.

Oh, her eyes they shone like diamonds, you would think she was queen of the land,
With her hair at the top of her shoulders, tied up with a black ribbon band.

As I went down a broad way, not intending to stay very long,
I met with a ticklesome damsel as she came tripping along.
A watch she pulled out of a pocket, and slipped it right into my hand,
And the very first day that I met her, bad luck to her black ribbon band!

Before judge and jury next morning, we both of us did appear,
And the gentleman swore to the jury, and the case against us was clear;
For seven years transportation, right into Van Diemen's Land,
Far away from my friends and relations, to follow her black ribbon band.

Come all you young Irish lads, a warning take by me:
Beware of those ticklesome colleens that are knockin' around in Tralee.
They'll treat you to whiskey and porter, until you're unable to stand,
And before you have time for to leave them, you're into Van Diemen's Land.

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 1-Dec-02.