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 Oh blow, my bully boys, blow 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 The Wellerman, The Wellerman She'd 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 When she dived down low 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 The Wellerman, The Wellerman The Wellerman, The Wellerman 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 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