There [Am]once was a ship that [Em]put to sea
The [Dm]name of the ship was the [Am]Billy of Tea
The [Am]winds blew up, her [Em]bow dipped down
O [E7]blow, my bully boys, [Am]blow
[F]Soon may the [C]Wellerman come
To [Dm]bring us sugar and [Am]tea and rum
[F]One day, when the [C]tonguin' is done
We'll [Dm]take our leave and [Am]go
[Am]She had not been two weeks from [Em]shore
When [Dm]down on her a right whale [Am]bore
The [Am]captain called all hands and [Em]swore
He'd [E7]take that whale in [Am]tow
[F]Soon may the [C]Wellerman come
To [Dm]bring us sugar and [Am]tea and rum
[F]One day, when the [C]tonguin' is done
We'll [Dm]take our leave and [Am]go
Be[Am]fore the boat had [Em]hit the water
The [Dm]whale's tail came [Am]up and caught her
All [Am]hands to the side, har[Em]pooned and fought her
[E7]When she dived down [Am]low
[F]Soon may the [C]Wellerman come
To [Dm]bring us sugar and [Am]tea and rum
[F]One day, when the [C]tonguin' is done
We'll [Dm]take our leave and [Am]go
No [Am]line was cut, no [Em]whale was freed
The [Dm]Captain's mind was [Am]not of greed
And [Am]he belonged to the [Em]whaleman's creed
She [E7]took that ship in [Am]tow
[F]Soon may the [C]Wellerman come
To [Dm]bring us sugar and [Am]tea and rum
[F]One day, when the [C]tonguin' is done
We'll [Dm]take our leave and [Am]go
For [Am]forty days, or [Em]even more
The [Dm]line went slack, then [Am]tight once more
All [Am]boats were lost, there were [Em]only four
But [E7]still that whale did [Am]go
[F]Soon may the [C]Wellerman come
To [Dm]bring us sugar and [Am]tea and rum
[F]One day, when the [C]tonguin' is done
We'll [Dm]take our leave and [Am]go
As [Am]far as I've heard, the [Em]fight's still on
The [Dm]line's not cut and the [Am]whale's not gone
The[Am] Wellerman makes his [Em]regular call
To en[E7]courage the Captain, [Am]crew, and all
[F]Soon may the [C]Wellerman come
To [Dm]bring us sugar and [Am]tea and rum
[F]One day, when the [C]tonguin' is done
We'll [Dm]take our leave and [Am]go