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