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