The Wellerman

[Intro ]
Dm 


[Verso 1]
 
      Dm 
There once was a ship that put to sea 
        Gm                       Dm 
And the name of the ship was the Billy o' Tea 
    Dm 
The winds blew up, her bow dipped down 
A                    Dm 
Blow, me bully boys, blow (Huh!) 
 


[Refrão]
 
Bb           F 
Soon may the Wellerman come 
   Gm                 Dm 
To bring us sugar and tea and rum 
Bb                F 
One day, when the tonguing is done 
      A                  Dm 
We'll take our leave and go 
 


[Verso 2]
 
Dm 
She had not been two weeks from shore 
     Gm            Dm 
When down on her a right whale bore 
    Dm 
The captain called all hands and swore 
     A                  Dm 
He'd take that whale in tow (Huh!) 
 


[Refrão]
 
Bb           F 
Soon may the Wellerman come 
   Gm                 Dm 
To bring us sugar and tea and rum 
Bb                F 
One day, when the tonguing is done 
      A                  Dm 
We'll take our leave and go 
 


[Verso 3]
 
  Dm 
Before the boat had hit the water 
    Gm                Dm 
The whale's tail came up and caught her 
    Dm 
All hands to the side harpooned and fought her 
A                   Dm 
When she dived down low (Huh!) 
 


[Refrão]
 
Bb           F 
Soon may the Wellerman come 
   Gm                 Dm 
To bring us sugar and tea and rum 
Bb                F 
One day, when the tonguing is done 
      A                  Dm 
We'll take our leave and go 
 


[Verso 4]
 
   Dm 
No line was cut, no whale was freed; 
    Gm                 Dm 
The Captain's mind was not on greed 
    Dm 
But he belonged to the whaleman's creed; 
    A                 Dm 
She took that ship in tow (Huh!) 
 


[Refrão]
 
Bb           F 
Soon may the Wellerman come 
   Gm                 Dm 
To bring us sugar and tea and rum 
Bb                F 
One day, when the tonguing is done 
      A                  Dm 
We'll take our leave and go 
 


[Verso 5]
 
    Dm 
For forty days, or even more 
    Gm                    Dm 
The line went slack, then tight once more 
    Dm 
All boats were lost (there were only four) 
    A                    Dm 
But still that whale did go (Huh!) 
 


[Refrão]
 
Bb           F 
Soon may the Wellerman come 
   Gm                 Dm 
To bring us sugar and tea and rum 
Bb                F 
One day, when the tonguing is done 
      A                  Dm 
We'll take our leave and go 
 


[Verso 6]
 
   Dm 
As far as I've heard, the fight's still on; 
    Gm                     Dm 
The line's not cut and the whale's not gone 
    Dm 
The Wellerman makes his regular call 
     Gm                   Dm 
To encourage the Captain, crew, and all 
 


[Refrão]
 
Bb           F 
Soon may the Wellerman come 
   Gm                 Dm 
To bring us sugar and tea and rum 
Bb                F 
One day, when the tonguing is done 
      A                  Dm 
We'll take our leave and go 

Bb           F 
Soon may the Wellerman come 
   Gm                 Dm 
To bring us sugar and tea and rum 
Bb                F 
One day, when the tonguing is done 
      A                  Dm 
We'll take our leave and go