8         -6      -6   -6   -6     7     8    8    8 

There once was a ship that put to sea

  8     -9    -8  -8  -8    -9   -9  -10 -10   8      8


The name of the ship was the Billy   of    Tea

  8       -6    -6    -6      7   8        8          8 


The winds blew up, her bow dipped down

   -9     -8   7   7    -7     -6


Blow my bully boys blow

Low octave verse

5  -3//  -3//  -3//  -3//   4   5  5  5

5  -5   -4  -4  -4  -5  -5  -6  -6  5  5 

5  -3//  -3//  -3//  -3//   4   5  5  5

-5   -4   4   4  -3   -3//

-10     -10  -9     9  9   8        8

Soon may the Wellerman come

  8   -9    -8  -8  -8  -9  -10   8     8


To bring us sugar and tea and rum

-10  -10    -9     -9    9   9     8     8


One day, when the tonguin' is done

  8      -9      -8    7     -7   -6


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

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

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 below

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

No line was cut, no whale was freed


The Captain's mind was not of greed


But he belonged to the whaleman's creed


She took the ship in tow

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