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

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

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

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

   Am 
Before the boat had hit the water
      Dm              Am 
The whale's tail came up and caught her
     Am 
All hands to the side, harpooned and fought her
      E               Am 
When she dived down below

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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