The ToneWay® Project: helping people play music


Girl in the Blue Velvet Band

One night while out for a ramble
The 4 hour was just about 1 nine
I 4 met a young maiden in 1 Frisco
On the corner of 5 Cherry and 1 Pine

On her face there was beauty of nature
And her eyes just seemed to expand
Her hair was so rich and so brilliant
Entwined in a blue velvet band

We strolled down the street together
In my pocket she placed her small hand
She planted the evidence on me
The girl in the blue velvet band

I heard the scream of the siren
And the girl in the blue velvet band
She left me to face all the trouble
With a diamond that was worth ten grand

They sent me to San Quintin for stealing
God knows I'm an innocent man
The guilty one now she lies dying
The girl in the blue velvet band

Last night when bed-time was ringin'
Standing there close to the bars
I fancied I heard a voice calling
Far out in the ocean of stars

I'll be out in a year and I'm leaving
But I'll carry the name of a man
That served ten years in prison
For the girl in the blue velvet band

And when I get out I'll endeavor
To live in some other land
And I'll bid farewell to old Frisco
And the girl in the blue velvet band


A song from the The ToneWay Mountain Music Collection, which offers lyrics and free Song Clips (recordings for learning the song by ear) for nearly 400 traditional songs, many of which are often heard in bluegrass and old-time jam circles. The ToneWay Project also offers songbooks, CDs, and a free online video series for learning to play music by ear. http://ToneWay.com