Chords with lyrics
Tuning: G C E A (G C E A) Ukulele chords in the original key for Nathan Evans' Wellerman version from TikTok The song is in the key of Cm. This arrangement might be more advanced, however this choice of chords nicely lets ring out open strings on ukulele. CHORD VOICINGS G-C-E-A C5 0-0-3-3 Fm 1-0-1-3 G5 0-2-3-x Ab 5-3-4-3 Eb 0-3-3-1 Verse 1: C5 C5 There once was a ship that put to sea Fm C5 The name of the ship was the Billy of Tea C5 C5 The winds blew up, her bow dipped down C5 G5 C5 O blow, my bully boys, blow
Chorus: Ab Eb Soon may the Wellerman come Fm C5 To bring us sugar and tea and rum Ab Eb One day, when the tonguin’ is done Eb G5 C5 We’ll take our leave and go Verse 2: C5 C5 She'd not been two weeks from shore Fm C5 When down on her a right whale bore C5 C5 The captain called all hands and swore C5 G5 C5 He'd take that whale in tow, huh! Chorus: Ab Eb Soon may the Wellerman come Fm C5 To bring us sugar and tea and rum Ab Eb One day, when the tonguin’ is done Eb G5 C5 We’ll take our leave and go
Interlude: Ab Eb Da da da-da dat da Fm C5 Da-da dat da da-da da dat da Ab Eb Da da da-da dat da Eb G5 C5 Da-da dat da dat da Verse 3: C5 C5 Before the boat had hit the water Fm C5 The wha-le's tail came up and caught her C5 C5 All hands to the side, harpooned and fought her C5 G5 C5 When she dived down low Chorus: Ab Eb Soon may the Wellerman come Fm C5 To bring us sugar and tea and rum Ab Eb One day, when the tonguin’ is done Eb G5 C5 We’ll take our leave and go Verse 4: C5 C5 No line was cut, no whale was freed Fm C5 The captain's mind was not of greed C5 C5 And he belonged to the whaleman's creed C5 G5 C5 She took that ship in tow Chorus: Ab Eb Soon may the Wellerman come Fm C5 To bring us sugar and tea and rum Ab Eb One day, when the tonguin’ is done Eb G5 C5 We’ll take our leave and go Interlude: Ab Eb Da da da-da dat da Fm C5 Da-da dat da da-da da dat da Ab Eb Da da da-da dat da Eb G5 C5 Da-da dat da dat da Verse 5: C5 C5 For forty days, or even more Fm C5 The line went slack, then tight once more C5 C5 All boats were lost (there were only four) C5 G5 C5 But still that whale did go Chorus: Ab Eb Soon may the Wellerman come Fm C5 To bring us sugar and tea and rum Ab Eb One day, when the tonguin’ is done Eb G5 C5 We’ll take our leave and go Verse 6: C5 C5 As far as I've heard, the fight's still on Fm C5 The line's not cut and the whale's not gone C5 C5 The Wellerman makes his regular call Fm C5 To encourage the captain, crew, and all Chorus: Ab Eb Soon may the Wellerman come Fm C5 To bring us sugar and tea and rum Ab Eb One day, when the tonguin’ is done Eb G5 C5 We’ll take our leave and go Outro: Ab Eb Soon may the Wellerman come Fm C5 To bring us sugar and tea and rum Ab Eb One day, when the tonguin’ is done Eb G5 C5 We’ll take our leave and go
