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