A#m     C       C#      D#      Fm      G#      
<====>  <====>  <====>  <====>  <====>  <====>  
 |OOO    ||||    OOO|    |||O    O|O|    ||||   
 ||||    ||||    ||||    ||||    ||||    ||||   
 O|||    |||O    ||||    |OO|    |||O    |O|O   
 ||||    ||||    |||O    ||||    ||||    ||O|   
.||||   .||||   .||||   .||||   .||||   .O|||   
 ||||    ||||    ||||    ||||    ||||    ||||   

[Verse 1]

 

   Fm

There once was a ship that put to sea

         A#m                      Fm

And the name of the ship was the Billy o' Tea

     Fm

The winds blew hard, her bow dipped down

 C                    Fm

Blow, me bully boys, blow (huh!)

 

[Chorus]

 

 C#           G#

Soon may the Wellerman come

    A#m                Fm

To bring us sugar and tea and rum

C#                 G#

One day, when the tonguin' is done,

       C                 Fm

We'll take our leave and go

 

[Verse 2]

 

    Fm

She had not been two weeks from shore

      A#m            Fm

When down on her a right whale bore

     Fm

The captain called all hands and swore

      C                 Fm

He'd take that whale in tow (huh!)

 

[Chorus]

 

 C#           G#

Soon may the Wellerman come

    A#m                Fm

To bring us sugar and tea and rum

C#                 G#

One day, when the tonguin' is done,

       C                 Fm

We'll take our leave and go

 

[Verse 3]

 

   Fm

Before the boat had hit the water

      A#m              Fm

The whale's tail came up and caught her

     Fm

All hands to the side, harpooned and fought her

      C                Fm

When she dived down below (huh!)

 

[Chorus]

 

 C#           G#

Soon may the Wellerman come

    A#m                 Fm

To bring us sugar and tea and rum

C#                G#

One day, when the tonguin' is done,

       C                 Fm

We'll take our leave and go

 

[Verse 4]

 

    Fm

No line was cut, no whale was freed;

     A#m                Fm

The Captain's mind was not of greed

    Fm

But he belonged to the whaleman's creed;

     C                Fm

She took the ship in tow (huh!)

 

[Chorus]

 

 C#           G#

Soon may the Wellerman come

    A#m                 Fm

To bring us sugar and tea and rum

C#                G#

One day, when the tonguin' is done,

       C                 Fm

We'll take our leave and go

 

[Verse 5]

 

     Fm

For forty days, or even more

     A#m                    Fm

The line went slack, then tight once more

     Fm

All boats were lost (there were only four)

      C                  Fm

But still that whale did go

 

[Chorus]

 

 C#           G#

Soon may the Wellerman come

    A#m                 Fm

To bring us sugar and tea and rum

C#                G#

One day, when the tonguin' is done,

       C                 Fm

We'll take our leave and go

 

[Verse 6]

 

   Fm

As far as I've heard, the fight's still on;

     A#m                     Fm

The line's not cut and the whale's not gone

     Fm

The Wellerman makes his regular call

     A#m                    Fm

To encourage the Captain, crew, and all

 

[Chorus]

 

 C#           G#

Soon may the Wellerman come

    A#m                 Fm

To bring us sugar and tea and rum

C#                G#

One day, when the tonguin' is done,

       C                 Fm D#

We'll take our leave and go

 

 

 C#           G#

Soon may the Wellerman come

    A#m                 Fm

To bring us sugar and tea and rum

C#                G#

One day, when the tonguin' is done,

       C                 Fm

We'll take our leave and go