[Verso 1]


   Am                       G 
There once was a ship that put to sea 
          F                        Em 
And the name of the ship was the Billy of Tea 
     Am                     G   
The winds blew hard, her bow dipped down 
   F        E           Am 
O blow, my bully boys, blow 



[Refrão]

 F            C 
Soon may the Wellerman come 
    G                Am 
To bring us sugar and tea and rum 
F                  C 
One day, when the tonguin' is done 
       G       Ab7M      Am 
We'll take our leave and go 


[Verso 2]


    Am                  G 
She had not been two weeks from shore 
      F            Em 
When down on her a right whale bore 
     Am                 G 
The captain called all hands and swore 
      F        Em       Am 
He'd take that whale in tow 

 

[Refrão]

 F            C 
Soon may the Wellerman come 
    G                Am 
To bring us sugar and tea and rum 
F                  C 
One day, when the tonguin' is done 
      G        Ab7M      Am 
We'll take our leave and go 


 
[Verso 3]
  Am                G  
Before the boat had hit the water 
      F              Em 
The whale's tail came up and caught her 
     Am                   G 
All hands to the side, harpooned and fought her 
      F        Em     Am 
When she dived down below 


[Refrão]


 F            C 
Soon may the Wellerman come 
     G                 Am 
To bring us sugar and tea and rum 
 F                 C 
One day, when the tonguin' is done 
      G         Ab7M     Am 
We'll take our leave and go 


[Verso 4]


    Am                G 
No line was cut, no whale was freed 
     F                Em 
The Captain's mind was not of greed 
    Am                   G 
But he belonged to the whaleman's creed 
     F        Em     Am 
She took the ship in tow 


[Refrão]


 F            C 
Soon may the Wellerman come 
    G                 Am 
To bring us sugar and tea and rum 
F                 C 
One day, when the tonguin' is done 
       G       Ab7M      Am 
We'll take our leave and go 

 

[Verso 5]

     Am             G 
For forty days, or even more 
     Fm                    Em 
The line went slack, then tight once more 
     Am                     G 
All boats were lost, there were only four) 
      F         Em       Am 
But still that whale did go 


[Refrão]


 F            C 
Soon may the Wellerman come 
     G                 Am 
To bring us sugar and tea and rum 
 F                 C 
One day, when the tonguin' is done 
      G        Ab7M      Am 
We'll take our leave and go 



[Verso 6]

   Am                       G 
As far as I've heard, the fight's still on 
     F                     Em 
The line's not cut and the whale's not gone 
     Am                   G 
The Wellerman makes his regular call 
        F          Em      Am 
To encourage the Captain, crew, and all 


[Refrão]


 F            C 
Soon may the Wellerman come 
     G                 Am 
To bring us sugar and tea and rum 
 F                 C 
One day, when the tonguin' is done 
      G        Ab7M      Am 
We'll take our leave and go 

  F            C 
Soon may the Wellerman come 
     G                 Am 
To bring us sugar and tea and rum 
 F                 C 
One day, when the tonguin' is done 
      G        Ab7M      Am 
We'll take our leave and go