Intro
[Dm]
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 up, her bow dipped down
[A] [Dm]
Blow, me bully boys, blow (Huh!)
Chorus
[Bb] [F]
Soon may the Wellerman come
[Gm] [Dm]
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
[Bb] [F]
One day, when the tonguing 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
[Bb] [F]
Soon may the Wellerman come
[Gm] [Dm]
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
[Bb] [F]
One day, when the tonguing 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 low (Huh!)
Chorus
[Bb] [F]
Soon may the Wellerman come
[Gm] [Dm]
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
[Bb] [F]
One day, when the tonguing 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 on greed
[Dm]
But he belonged to the whaleman's creed;
[A] [Dm]
She took that ship in tow (Huh!)
Chorus
[Bb] [F]
Soon may the Wellerman come
[Gm] [Dm]
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
[Bb] [F]
One day, when the tonguing 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 (Huh!)
Chorus
[Bb] [F]
Soon may the Wellerman come
[Gm] [Dm]
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
[Bb] [F]
One day, when the tonguing 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
[Bb] [F]
Soon may the Wellerman come
[Gm] [Dm]
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
[Bb] [F]
One day, when the tonguing is done
[A] [Dm]
We'll take our leave and go
[Bb] [F]
Soon may the Wellerman come
[Gm] [Dm]
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
[Bb] [F]
One day, when the tonguing is done
[A] [Dm]
We'll take our leave and go
