Verse 1
The[Am]There once was a ship that put to sea
And the n[Dm]name of the ship was the [Am]Billy of Tea
The w[Am]winds blew hard, her bow dipped down
O bl[E]blow, my bully boys, b[Am]blow
Chorus
S[F]Soon may the W[C]Wellerman come
To b[Dm]bring us sugar and [Am]tea and rum
[F]One day, when the t[C]tonguin’ is done,
We’ll t[E]take our leave and [Am]go
Verse 2
She [Am]had not been two weeks from shore
When d[Dm]down on her a r[Am]right whale bore
The c[Am]captain called all hands and swore
He'd t[E]take that whale in [Am]tow
Chorus
S[F]Soon may the W[C]Wellerman come
To b[Dm]bring us sugar and [Am]tea and rum
[F]One day, when the t[C]tonguin’ is done,
We’ll t[E]take our leave and [Am]go
Verse 3
Bef[Am]Before the boat had hit the water
The wh[Dm]whale's tail came [Am]up and caught her
All h[Am]hands to the side, harpooned and fought her
When s[E]she dived down be[Am]below
Chorus
S[F]Soon may the W[C]Wellerman come
To b[Dm]bring us sugar and t[Am]tea and rum
[F]One day, when the [C]tonguin’ is done,
We’ll t[E]take our leave and [Am]go
Verse 4
No l[Am]line was cut, no whale was freed;
The C[Dm]Captain's mind was [Am]not of greed
But [Am]he belonged to the whaleman's creed;
She t[E]took the ship in t[Am]tow
Chorus
S[F]Soon may the W[C]Wellerman come
To b[Dm]bring us sugar and t[Am]tea and rum
[F]One day, when the [C]tonguin’ is done,
We’ll t[E]take our leave and [Am]go
Verse 5
For f[Am]forty days, or even more
The l[Dm]line went slack, then t[Am]tight once more
All b[Am]boats were lost (there were only four)
But st[E]still that whale did [Am]go
Chorus
S[F]Soon may the W[C]Wellerman come
To b[Dm]bring us sugar and t[Am]tea and rum
[F]One day, when the [C]tonguin’ is done,
We’ll t[E]take our leave and [Am]go
Verse 6
As [Am]far as I've heard, the fight's still on;
The l[Dm]line's not cut and the w[Am]whale's not gone
The W[Am]Wellerman makes his regular call
To en[Dm]encourage the Captain, c[Am]crew, and all
Chorus
S[F]Soon may the W[C]Wellerman come
To b[Dm]bring us sugar and t[Am]tea and rum
[F]One day, when the [C]tonguin’ is done,
We’ll t[E]take our leave and [Am]go [Asus2]
S[F]Soon may the W[C]Wellerman come
To b[Dm]bring us sugar and t[Am]tea and rum
[F]One day, when the [C]tonguin’ is done,
We’ll t[E]take our leave and [Am]go
