Cm                   Cm
There once was a ship that put to sea
    Fm                       Cm
The name of the ship was the Billy of Tea
     Cm                Cm
The winds blew up, her bow dipped down
    G                   Cm
O b-low, my bully boys, blow
 
 
G#            D#
Soon may the Wellerman come
   Fm                 Cm
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
G#                 D#
One day, when the tonguin’ is done,
      G                  Cm
We’ll take our leave and go

 
Cm                 Cm
She'd not been two weeks from shore
     Fm            Cm
When down on her a right whale bore
    Cm                 Cm
The captain called all hands and swore
     G                  Cm
He'd take that whale in tow, huh!
 

G#        D#
Da da da-da dat da
   Fm              Cm
Da-da dat da da-da da dat da
G#        D#
Da da da-da dat da
   G             Cm
Da-da dat da dat da

G#            D#
Soon may the Wellerman come
   Fm                 Cm
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
G#                 D#
One day, when the tonguin’ is done,
      G                  Cm
We’ll take our leave and go
 
 
G#        D#
Da da da-da dat da
   Fm              Cm
Da-da dat da da-da da dat da
G#        D#
Da da da-da dat da
   G             Cm
Da-da dat da dat da
 
 
  Cm                Cm
Before the boat had hit the water
    Fm                 Cm
The wha-le's tail came up and caught her
     Cm                   Cm
All hands to the side, harpooned and fought her
G                   Cm
When she dived down low
 
 
G#            D#
Soon may the Wellerman come
   Fm                 Cm
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
G#                 D#
One day, when the tonguin’ is done,
      G                  Cm
We’ll take our leave and go
 
 
   Cm               Cm
No line was cut, no whale was freed
    Fm                 Cm
The captain's mind was not of greed
    Cm                 Cm
And he belonged to the whaleman's creed
    G                 Cm
She took that ship in tow
 
 
G#            D#
Soon may the Wellerman come
   Fm                 Cm
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
G#                 D#
One day, when the tonguin’ is done,
      G                  Cm
We’ll take our leave and go
 
 
G#        D#
Da da da-da dat da
   Fm              Cm
Da-da dat da da-da da dat da
G#        D#
Da da da-da dat da
   G             Cm
Da-da dat da dat da
 
 
    Cm             Cm
For forty days, or even more
    Fm                    Cm
The line went slack, then tight once more
    Cm                          Cm
All boats were lost (there were only four)
    G                    Cm
But still that whale did go
 
 
G#            D#
Soon may the Wellerman come
   Fm                 Cm
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
G#                 D#
One day, when the tonguin’ is done,
      G                  Cm
We’ll take our leave and go
 
 
   Cm                     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                  Cm
The Wellerman makes his regular call
     Fm                   Cm
To encourage the Captain, crew, and all
 
 
G#            D#
Soon may the Wellerman come
   Fm                 Cm
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
G#                 D#
One day, when the tonguin’ is done,
      G                  Cm
We’ll take our leave and go
 
 
G#            D#
Soon may the Wellerman come
   Fm                 Cm
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
G#                 D#
One day, when the tonguin’ is done,
      G                  Cm
We’ll take our leave and go