Wellerman (sea Shanty) chords by Nathan Evans

Key: 'Cm'

   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