The Irish Rovers
The Wellerman
[Verse 1]
There was a ship that put to sea
And the name of that ship was the Billy of Tea
The winds blew up and her bow dipped down
Blow, me bully boys, blow!

[Chorus]
Soon may the Wellerman come
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
Some day, when the tonguin' is done
We'll take our leave and go

[Verse 2]
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

[Verse 3]
Before the boat had hit the water
Thе whale's tail come up and caught her
All hands to thе side, harpooned and fought her
But she dived down below

[Chorus]
Soon may the Wellerman come
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
Some day, when the tonguin' is done
We'll take our leave and go
[Chorus]
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

[Verse 4]
For forty days and forty nights
The line went slack and then went tight
All boats were lost, they sank from sight
Still the whale did go

[Chorus]
Soon may the Wellerman come
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
Some day, when the tonguin' is done
We'll take our leave and go

[Verse 5]
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 and dole
To encourage the crew and all

[Chorus]
Soon may the Wellerman come
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
Some day, when the tonguin' is done
We'll take our leave and go
[Verse 6]
But still the whale kept fighting on
Till our supplies were almost gone
Thank God the Wellerman comes at dawn
The rum is running low!

[Chorus]
Soon may the Wellerman come
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
Some day, when the tonguin' is done
We'll take our leave and go

[Verse 7]
Well, the captain says, "It seems to me
She's the bravest whale I ever did see
We'll cut the line and set her free
And perhaps we'll meet her again one day"

[Chorus]
Soon may the Wellerman come
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
Some day, when the tonguin' is done
We'll take our leave and go

[Chorus]
Soon may the Wellerman come
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
Some day, when the tonguin' is done
We'll take our leave and go