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 forty days and forty 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 encourge 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 met 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