The Wellerman

There once was a ship that put to sea

And the name of the ship was the Billy O' Tea

The winds blew up, her bow dipped down

Oh blow, my bully boys, blow (hey)

Soon may the Wellerman come

To bring us sugar and tea and rum

One 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 (hey)

Soon may the Wellerman come

To bring us sugar and tea and rum

One day, when the tonguing is done

We'll take our leave and go

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 (hey)

Soon may the Wellerman come

To bring us sugar and tea and rum

One day, when the tonguing 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

But he belonged to the Whaleman's creed

She took that ship in tow (hey)

For forty 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 (hey)

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 (hey)

Soon may the Wellerman come

To bring us sugar and tea and rum

One day, when the tonguing is done

We'll take our leave and go

Wellerman come

Give me sugar and tea and rum

Wellerman come now

We’ll take our leave and go

Wellerman come

Give me sugar and tea and rum

Wellerman come now

We’ll take our leave and go

Wellerman come

Give me sugar and tea and rum

Wellerman come now

We’ll take our leave and go

Soon may the Wellerman come

To bring us sugar and tea and rum

One 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

One day, when the tonguing is done

We'll take our leave and go

Auteur anonyme, perdu au fil du temps - chanson de baleinier probablement écrite au XIXème siècle, en Nouvelle Zélande.