I've often wondered about this song, if it is intended as a straight up account on the part of the singer, or the singer being the thief and trying to pass the blame. After all, in pretty much every version of the song the singer has just met this girl. She either immediately commits theft or gets him drunk first, then hands him the stolen item. What exactly would her motivation be?
In the versions where she gets him drunk first, he also seems to be blaming her for getting him drunk....
Seems much more likely that he stole the watch and is trying to say 'No, I'm innocent. She's the real culprit!'
@kim1166996 - That interpretation is fully inconsistent with the lyrics. The judge himself SAYS the lad was betrayed. This song is about how the British Empire used the penal system to procure labor. Incentive existed for people to be framed as criminals.\r\n\r\nHere is one example of an analysis explaining the song. https://www.irishmusicdaily.com/black-velvet-band
@kim1166996 - That interpretation is fully inconsistent with the lyrics. The judge himself SAYS the lad was betrayed. This song is about how the British Empire used the penal system to procure labor. Incentive existed for people to be framed as criminals.\r\n\r\nHere is one example of an analysis explaining the song. https://www.irishmusicdaily.com/black-velvet-band
@kim1166996 - That interpretation is fully inconsistent with the lyrics. The judge himself SAYS the lad was betrayed. This song is about how the British Empire used the penal system to procure labor. Incentive existed for people to be framed as criminals.\r\n\r\nHere is one example of an analysis explaining the song. https://www.irishmusicdaily.com/black-velvet-band
@kim1166996 - That interpretation is fully inconsistent with the lyrics. The judge himself SAYS the lad was betrayed. This song is about how the British Empire used the penal system to procure labor. Incentive existed for people to be framed as criminals.\r\n\r\nHere is one example of an analysis explaining the song. https://www.irishmusicdaily.com/black-velvet-band
I've often wondered about this song, if it is intended as a straight up account on the part of the singer, or the singer being the thief and trying to pass the blame. After all, in pretty much every version of the song the singer has just met this girl. She either immediately commits theft or gets him drunk first, then hands him the stolen item. What exactly would her motivation be?
In the versions where she gets him drunk first, he also seems to be blaming her for getting him drunk....
Seems much more likely that he stole the watch and is trying to say 'No, I'm innocent. She's the real culprit!'
@kim1166996 - That interpretation is fully inconsistent with the lyrics. The judge himself SAYS the lad was betrayed. This song is about how the British Empire used the penal system to procure labor. Incentive existed for people to be framed as criminals.\r\n\r\nHere is one example of an analysis explaining the song. https://www.irishmusicdaily.com/black-velvet-band
@kim1166996 - That interpretation is fully inconsistent with the lyrics. The judge himself SAYS the lad was betrayed. This song is about how the British Empire used the penal system to procure labor. Incentive existed for people to be framed as criminals.\r\n\r\nHere is one example of an analysis explaining the song. https://www.irishmusicdaily.com/black-velvet-band
@kim1166996 - That interpretation is fully inconsistent with the lyrics. The judge himself SAYS the lad was betrayed. This song is about how the British Empire used the penal system to procure labor. Incentive existed for people to be framed as criminals.\r\n\r\nHere is one example of an analysis explaining the song. https://www.irishmusicdaily.com/black-velvet-band
@kim1166996 - That interpretation is fully inconsistent with the lyrics. The judge himself SAYS the lad was betrayed. This song is about how the British Empire used the penal system to procure labor. Incentive existed for people to be framed as criminals.\r\n\r\nHere is one example of an analysis explaining the song. https://www.irishmusicdaily.com/black-velvet-band