Am      B       C       D       Em      G       
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 O|||    ||OO    ||||    OOO|    |||O    |O|O   
 ||||    |O||    |||O    ||||    ||O|    ||O|   
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[Verse 1]

 

   Em

There once was a ship that put to sea

         Am                      Em

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

     Em

The winds blew hard, her bow dipped down

 B                    Em

Blow, me bully boys, blow (huh!)

 

[Chorus]

 

 C           G

Soon may the Wellerman come

    Am                Em

To bring us sugar and tea and rum

C                 G

One day, when the tonguin' is done,

       B                 Em

We'll take our leave and go

 

[Verse 2]

 

    Em

She had not been two weeks from shore

      Am            Em

When down on her a right whale bore

     Em

The captain called all hands and swore

      B                 Em

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

 

[Chorus]

 

 C           G

Soon may the Wellerman come

    Am                Em

To bring us sugar and tea and rum

C                 G

One day, when the tonguin' is done,

       B                 Em

We'll take our leave and go

 

[Verse 3]

 

   Em

Before the boat had hit the water

      Am              Em

The whale's tail came up and caught her

     Em

All hands to the side, harpooned and fought her

      B                Em

When she dived down below (huh!)

 

[Chorus]

 

 C           G

Soon may the Wellerman come

    Am                 Em

To bring us sugar and tea and rum

C                G

One day, when the tonguin' is done,

       B                 Em

We'll take our leave and go

 

[Verse 4]

 

    Em

No line was cut, no whale was freed;

     Am                Em

The Captain's mind was not of greed

    Em

But he belonged to the whaleman's creed;

     B                Em

She took the ship in tow (huh!)

 

[Chorus]

 

 C           G

Soon may the Wellerman come

    Am                 Em

To bring us sugar and tea and rum

C                G

One day, when the tonguin' is done,

       B                 Em

We'll take our leave and go

 

[Verse 5]

 

     Em

For forty days, or even more

     Am                    Em

The line went slack, then tight once more

     Em

All boats were lost (there were only four)

      B                  Em

But still that whale did go

 

[Chorus]

 

 C           G

Soon may the Wellerman come

    Am                 Em

To bring us sugar and tea and rum

C                G

One day, when the tonguin' is done,

       B                 Em

We'll take our leave and go

 

[Verse 6]

 

   Em

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

     Am                     Em

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

     Em

The Wellerman makes his regular call

     Am                    Em

To encourage the Captain, crew, and all

 

[Chorus]

 

 C           G

Soon may the Wellerman come

    Am                 Em

To bring us sugar and tea and rum

C                G

One day, when the tonguin' is done,

       B                 Em D

We'll take our leave and go

 

 

 C           G

Soon may the Wellerman come

    Am                 Em

To bring us sugar and tea and rum

C                G

One day, when the tonguin' is done,

       B                 Em

We'll take our leave and go