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