Wellerman chords by Nathan Evans

Tuning: Standard (E A D G B E)


Verse 1:
   Am          Am
There once was a ship that put to sea
  Dm            Am
The name of the ship was the Billy of Tea
   Am        Am
The winds blew up, her bow dipped down
  E          Am
O b-low, my bully boys, blow


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

Verse 2:
Am         Am
She'd not been two weeks from shore
   Dm      Am
When down on her a right whale bore
  Am         Am
The captain called all hands and swore
   E         Am
He'd take that whale in tow, huh!

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


Interlude:
F    C
Da da da-da dat da
  Dm       Am
Da-da dat da da-da da dat da
F    C
Da da da-da dat da
  E       Am
Da-da dat da dat da


Verse 3:
 Am        Am
Before the boat had hit the water
  Dm         Am
The wha-le's tail came up and caught her
   Am          Am
All hands to the side, harpooned and fought her
E          Am
When she dived down low


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


Verse 4:
  Am        Am
No line was cut, no whale was freed
  Dm         Am
The captain's mind was not of greed
  Am         Am
And he belonged to the whaleman's creed
  E         Am
She took that ship in tow


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


Interlude:
F    C
Da da da-da dat da
  Dm       Am
Da-da dat da da-da da dat da
F    C
Da da da-da dat da
  E       Am
Da-da dat da dat da


Verse 5:
  Am       Am
For forty days, or even more
  Dm          Am
The line went slack, then tight once more
  Am             Am
All boats were lost (there were only four)
  E          Am
But still that whale did go


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


Verse 6:
  Am           Am
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         Am
The Wellerman makes his regular call
   Dm          Am
To encourage the Captain, crew, and all


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


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