[Verse 1]
A#m
There once was a ship that put to sea
D#m A#m
And the name of the ship was the Billy o' Tea
A#m
The winds blew hard, her bow dipped down
F A#m
Blow, me bully boys, blow (huh!)
[Chorus]
F# C#
Soon may the Wellerman come
D#m A#m
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
F# C#
One day, when the tonguin' is done,
F A#m
We'll take our leave and go
[Verse 2]
A#m
She had not been two weeks from shore
D#m A#m
When down on her a right whale bore
A#m
The captain called all hands and swore
F A#m
He'd take that whale in tow (huh!)
[Chorus]
F# C#
Soon may the Wellerman come
D#m A#m
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
F# C#
One day, when the tonguin' is done,
F A#m
We'll take our leave and go
[Verse 3]
A#m
Before the boat had hit the water
D#m A#m
The whale's tail came up and caught her
A#m
All hands to the side, harpooned and fought her
F A#m
When she dived down below (huh!)
[Chorus]
F# C#
Soon may the Wellerman come
D#m A#m
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
F# C#
One day, when the tonguin' is done,
F A#m
We'll take our leave and go
[Verse 4]
A#m
No line was cut, no whale was freed;
D#m A#m
The Captain's mind was not of greed
A#m
But he belonged to the whaleman's creed;
F A#m
She took the ship in tow (huh!)
[Chorus]
F# C#
Soon may the Wellerman come
D#m A#m
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
F# C#
One day, when the tonguin' is done,
F A#m
We'll take our leave and go
[Verse 5]
A#m
For forty days, or even more
D#m A#m
The line went slack, then tight once more
A#m
All boats were lost (there were only four)
F A#m
But still that whale did go
[Chorus]
F# C#
Soon may the Wellerman come
D#m A#m
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
F# C#
One day, when the tonguin' is done,
F A#m
We'll take our leave and go
[Verse 6]
A#m
As far as I've heard, the fight's still on;
D#m A#m
The line's not cut and the whale's not gone
A#m
The Wellerman makes his regular call
D#m A#m
To encourage the Captain, crew, and all
[Chorus]
F# C#
Soon may the Wellerman come
D#m A#m
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
F# C#
One day, when the tonguin' is done,
F A#m G#
We'll take our leave and go
F# C#
Soon may the Wellerman come
D#m A#m
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
F# C#
One day, when the tonguin' is done,
F A#m
We'll take our leave and go