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
