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