JD Crows Blue Velvet Band

Subject: RE: JD Crows Blue Velvet Band
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 15 Nov 99 - 10:03 PM

G'day all,

I guess you all know about the standard English / Scottish / Irish Black Velvet Band song ... found in broadsides in just about every major town in the British Isles with only the town name changed. It is well-known here in Australia, usually set in Dublin or London, depending upon the singer's inclinations.

What i want to mention is the virtuous version I found in New Zealand singbook (~1960s) with no amorous dalliance, no theft or pocket-picking and no convict sentence. This strait-laced Kiwi (obviously sent out by the Presbyterian Immigration Society) sings that he is working hard, saving, every bawbee, and will soon have his own shop ... and be able to pay the passage out for his well behaved sweetheart - the "girl with the black velvet band".

... Only in New Zealand!

Reagrds,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: JD Crows Blue Velvet Band
From: Mbo
Date: 15 Nov 99 - 09:40 AM

I wrote my own version of the story, where they both get sent to Van Deiman's Land and "The tie that binds us together is the knot in her Black Velvet Band."

--Mbo

Subject: RE: JD Crows Blue Velvet Band
From: Fred
Date: 15 Nov 99 - 09:27 AM

The song JD Crowe is performing was originally a Cliff Carlisle song (part of the Grand Ole Opry's Carlisle Brothers) called "The Girl in the Blue Velvet Band." It has been memorably covered by Bill Monroe and others. The just ending you mentioned was in the original: "They sent me to San Quentin for stealing/Lord knows I;m an innocent man/But the guilty one, now she lies dying/the girl in the blue velvet band." Beware, ye country folk that long for life in the city!

Subject: RE: JD Crows Blue Velvet Band
From: JedMarum
Date: 15 Nov 99 - 01:16 AM

well - looks like Liam the HTML challenged ejit strikes again!!

sorry folks, I forgot to close my blue clicky thing!

I also see several versions of this song (blue and black velvet band) among the DT lyrics.

Subject: JD Crows Blue Velvet Band
From: JedMarum
Date: 15 Nov 99 - 01:11 AM

I found only one reference to the Black Velvet song here among the threads. I am wondering if y'all have heard any US versions of the same story. I heard a JC Crow version set, I think, in San Fransisco, where a young man is made the scape goat of the pretty and enterprising young woman, and sent to jail for her crime. In this version, the young woman meets her just deserts when she dies just as the young man is about to complete his prison sentence.

Anyone know about how these version may be connected? Are there other versions in between?

--- Link fixed. ---
---Jeff (PA)---