Wellerman chords by Traditional

Tuning: Standard (E A D G B E)

Verse 1:

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


Chorus 1:

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


Verse 2:

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


Chorus 2:

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


Verse 3:

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


Chorus 3:

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


Verse 4:

  Am        C
No line was cut, no whale was freed
    Dm         Am
An' the captain's mind was not on greed
  Am         C
But he belonged to the Whaleman's creed
  E        Am
She took that ship in tow


Chorus 4:

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


Verse 5:

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


Chorus 5:

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


Verse 6:

  Am           C
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         C
The Wellerman makes his regular call
   E              Am
To encourage the captain, crew and all


Chorus 6:

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


Chorus 7:

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