Wellerman chords by Nathan Evans

Chords with lyrics

Tuning: Standard (E MajorE A augmentedA D MajorD G+G BB E MajorE)


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


Chorus:
FF      C majorC
Soon may the Wellerman come
  DmDm         A minorAm
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
FF         C majorC
One day, when the tonguin’ is done,
   E MajorE         A minorAm
We’ll take our leave and go

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

Chorus:
FF      C majorC
Soon may the Wellerman come
  DmDm         A minorAm
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
FF         C majorC
One day, when the tonguin’ is done,
   E MajorE         A minorAm
We’ll take our leave and go


Interlude:
FF    C majorC
Da da da-da dat da
  DmDm       A minorAm
Da-da dat da da-da da dat da
FF    C majorC
Da da da-da dat da
  E MajorE       A minorAm
Da-da dat da dat da

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


Chorus:
FF      C majorC
Soon may the Wellerman come
  DmDm         A minorAm
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
FF         C majorC
One day, when the tonguin’ is done,
   E MajorE         A minorAm
We’ll take our leave and go


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


Chorus:
FF      C majorC
Soon may the Wellerman come
  DmDm         A minorAm
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
FF         C majorC
One day, when the tonguin’ is done,
   E MajorE         A minorAm
We’ll take our leave and go


Interlude:
FF    C majorC
Da da da-da dat da
  DmDm       A minorAm
Da-da dat da da-da da dat da
FF    C majorC
Da da da-da dat da
  E MajorE       A minorAm
Da-da dat da dat da


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


Chorus:
FF      C majorC
Soon may the Wellerman come
  DmDm         A minorAm
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
FF         C majorC
One day, when the tonguin’ is done,
   E MajorE         A minorAm
We’ll take our leave and go


Verse 6:
  A minorAm           A minorAm
As far as I've heard, the fight's still on
  DmDm           A minorAm
The line's not cut and the whale's not gone
  A minorAm         A minorAm
The Wellerman makes his regular call
   DmDm          A minorAm
To encourage the Captain, crew, and all


Chorus:
FF      C majorC
Soon may the Wellerman come
  DmDm         A minorAm
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
FF         C majorC
One day, when the tonguin’ is done,
   E MajorE         A minorAm
We’ll take our leave and go


Outro:
FF      C majorC
Soon may the Wellerman come
  DmDm         A minorAm
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
FF         C majorC
One day, when the tonguin’ is done,
   E MajorE         A minorAm
We’ll take our leave and go

Other versions of Wellerman

Alternative guitar chords and tabs for Wellerman ukulele by Nathan Evans