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 

 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 

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 

 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 

( Ab  Eb  Fm  Cm ) 
( Ab  Eb  G  Cm ) 

   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 

 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 

    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 

 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 

( Ab  Eb  Fm  Cm ) 
( Ab  Eb  G  Cm ) 

     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 

 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 

   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 

 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 

 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