Verse 1:
   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
 
Chorus:
 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
 
Verse 2:
    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
 
Chorus:
 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
 
Verse 3:
   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
 
Chorus:
 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
 
Verse 4:
    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
 
Chorus:
 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
 
Verse 5:
     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
 
Chorus:
 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
 
Verse 6:
   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
 
Chorus:
 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 Bb
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