Wellerman (Sea Shanty)

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 O blow, my bully boys, blow (huh) Soon may the Wellerman come To bring us sugar and tea and rum One day, when the tonguin' 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 (huh) Soon may the Wellerman come To bring us sugar and tea and rum One day, when the tonguin' is done We'll take our leave and go Da-da, da-da-da-da Da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da-da Da-da, da-da-da-da Da-da-da-da-da-da 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 When she dived down low (huh) Soon may the Wellerman come To bring us sugar and tea and rum One day, when the tonguin' is done We'll take our leave and go No line was cut, no whale was freed The captain's mind was not on greed And he belonged to the whaleman's creed She took the ship in tow (huh) Soon may the Wellerman come To bring us sugar and tea and rum One day, when the tonguin' is done We'll take our leave and go Da-da, da-da-da-da Da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da-da Da-da, da-da-da-da Da-da-da-da-da-da For 40 days, or even more The line went slack, then tight once more All boats were lost, there were only four But still that whale did go (huh) Soon may the Wellerman come To bring us sugar and tea and rum One day, when the tonguin' is done We'll take our leave and go As far as I've heard, the fight's still on The line's not cut and the whale's not gone The Wellerman makes his regular call To encourage the captain, crew, and all (huh) Soon may the Wellerman come To bring us sugar and tea and rum One day, when the tonguin' is done We'll take our leave and go Soon may the Wellerman come To bring us sugar and tea and rum One day, when the tonguin' is done We'll take our leave and go