The Longest Johns – Wellerman (Guitar)

      Am
There once was a ship that put to sea

         Dm                       Am
And the name of that ship was the Billy o' Tea

     Am
The winds blew hard, her bow dipped down

 E                    Am
Blow, me bully boys, blow (huh!)

 F            C
Soon may the Wellerman come

    Dm                Am
To bring us sugar and tea and rum

F                  C
One day, when the tonguin’ is done,

       E                 Am
We’ll take our leave and go

    Am
She had not been two weeks from shore

      Dm            Am
When down on her a right whale bore

     Am
The captain called all hands and swore

      E                 Am
He'd take that whale in tow (huh!)

 F            C
Soon may the Wellerman come

    Dm                Am
To bring us sugar and tea and rum

F                  C
One day, when the tonguin’ is done,

       E                 Am
We’ll take our leave and go

   Am
Before the boat had hit the water

      Dm              Am
The whale's tail came up and caught her

     Am
All hands to the side, harpooned and fought her

      E                Am
When she dived down below (huh!)

 F            C
Soon may the Wellerman come

    Dm                 Am
To bring us sugar and tea and rum

F                 C
One day, when the tonguin’ is done,

       E                 Am
We’ll take our leave and go

    Am
No line was cut, no whale was freed;

     Dm                Am
The Captain's mind was not on greed

    Am
But he belonged to the whaleman's creed;

     E                 Am
She took that ship in tow (huh!)

 F            C
Soon may the Wellerman come

    Dm                 Am
To bring us sugar and tea and rum

F                 C
One day, when the tonguin’ is done,

       E                 Am
We’ll take our leave and go

     Am
For forty days, or even more

     Dm                    Am
The line went slack, then tight once more

     Am
All boats were lost (there were only four)

      E                  Am
But still that whale did go

 F            C
Soon may the Wellerman come

    Dm                 Am
To bring us sugar and tea and rum

F                 C
One day, when the tonguin’ is done,

       E                 Am
We’ll take our leave and go

   Am
As far as I've heard, the fight's still on;

     Dm                     Am
The line's not cut and the whale's not gone

     Am
The Wellerman makes his regular call

     Dm                    Am
To encourage the Captain, crew, and all

 F            C
Soon may the Wellerman come

    Dm                 Am
To bring us sugar and tea and rum

F                 C
One day, when the tonguin’ is done,

       E                 Am G
We’ll take our leave and go

 F            C
Soon may the Wellerman come

    Dm                 Am
To bring us sugar and tea and rum

F                 C
One day, when the tonguin’ is done,

       E                 Am
We’ll take our leave and go