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