The Wellerman

There once was a ship that put to sea The name of the ship was the Billy of Tea The winds blew up, her bow dipped down Blow, my bully boys, blow Soon may the Wellerman come To bring us sugar and tea and rum Some day, when the tonguing is done We'll take our leave and go She had not been two weeks from shore When down on her, a right whale bore The captain called all hands and swore He'd take that whale in tow Before the boat had hit the water The whale's tail came up and caught her All hands to the side, harpooned and fought her But she dived down below Soon may the Wellerman come To bring us sugar and tea and rum Some day, when the tonguing is done We'll take our leave and go Soon may the Wellerman come To bring us sugar and tea and rum Some day, when the tonguing is done We'll take our leave and go For 40 days and 40 nights The line went slack, then went tight All boats were lost, they sank from sight Still, the whale did go Soon may the Wellerman come To bring us sugar and tea and rum Some day, when the tonguing is done We'll take our leave and go Well, as far as I've heard, the fight's still on The line's not cut, the whale's not gone The Wellerman will arrive at dawn To encourage the crew and all Soon may the Wellerman come To bring us sugar and tea and rum Some day, when the tonguing is done We'll take our leave and go But still, the whale kept fighting on 'Til our supplies were almost gone Thank God the Wellerman comes at dawn The rum is running low Soon may the Wellerman come To bring us sugar and tea and rum Some day, when the tonguing is done We'll take our leave and go Well, the captain says, "It seems to me She's the bravest whale I ever did see Well, cut the line and set her free And perhaps we'll meet her again one day" Soon may the Wellerman come To bring us sugar and tea and rum Some day, when the tonguing is done We'll take our leave and go Soon may the Wellerman come To bring us sugar and tea and rum Some day, when the tonguing is done We'll take our leave and go (go!)