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