The Wellerman

There once was a ship that put to sea 
The name of the ship was the Billy of Tea 
The winds blew up, her bow dipped down 
O blow, my bully boys, blow (Huh!) 

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

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

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

 
Before the boat had hit the water 
The whale's tail came up and caught her 
All hands to the side, harpooned and fought her 
When she dived down low (Huh!) 


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

No line was cut, no whale was freed 
The Captain's mind was not of greed 
But he belonged to the whale man’s creed 
She took that ship in tow (Huh!) 

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

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

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

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

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

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