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There once was a ship that put to sea
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And the name of the ship was the Billy of Tea
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The winds blew hard, her bow dipped down
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O blow, my bully boys, blow
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Soon may the Wellerman come
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To bring us sugar and tea and rum
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One day, when the tonguin' is done
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We'll take our leave and go
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She had not been two weeks from shore
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When down on her a right whale bore
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The captain called all hands and swore
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He'd take that whale in tow
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Soon may the Wellerman come
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To bring us sugar and tea and rum
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One day, when the tonguin' is done
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We'll take our leave and go
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Before the boat had hit the water
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The whale's tail came up and caught her
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All hands to the side, harpooned and fought her
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When she dived down below
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Soon may the Wellerman come
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To bring us sugar and tea and rum
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One day, when the tonguin' is done
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We'll take our leave and go
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No line was cut, no whale was freed
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The Captain's mind was not of greed
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But he belonged to the whaleman's creed
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She took the ship in tow
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Soon may the Wellerman come
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To bring us sugar and tea and rum
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One day, when the tonguin' is done
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We'll take our leave and go
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For forty days, or even more
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The line went slack, then tight once more
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All boats were lost (there were only four)
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But still that whale did go
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Soon may the Wellerman come
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To bring us sugar and tea and rum
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One day, when the tonguin' is done
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We'll take our leave and go
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As far as I've heard, the fight's still on
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The line's not cut and the whale's not gone
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The Wellerman makes his regular call
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To encourage the Captain, crew, and all
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Soon may the Wellerman come
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To bring us sugar and tea and rum
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One day, when the tonguin' is done
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We'll take our leave and go
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Soon may the Wellerman come
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To bring us sugar and tea and rum
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One day, when the tonguin' is done
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We'll take our leave and go
Written by Anna Cornish/Jonathan Darley/David Robinson/Robert Sattin/Andrew Yates