Wellerman

• This popular Sea Shanty is all about an old-time whaling ships search for a whale

• I've done a solo tab version but if you strummed out the chords then you could sing along with the lyrics below.

For the 'advanced' solo version of this tune please click here...

Dm There once was a ship that put to sea               Gm                                      Dm And the name of that ship was the Billy o' Tea        Dm The winds blew hard, her bow dipped down A7                              Dm Blow, me bully boys, blow (huh) (Chorus) Bb                     F Soon may the Wellerman come      Gm                            Dm To bring us sugar and tea and rum Bb                             F One day, when the tonguing is done           A7                             Dm 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 (huh) (Chorus) 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 (huh) (Chorus)

No line was cut, no whale was freed An' the captain's mind was not on greed But he belonged to the Whaleman's creed She took that ship in tow (huh) (Chorus) For forty days or even more (ooh) The line went slack then tight once more All boats were lost, there were only four And still that whale did go (Chorus) 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 (Chorus) (Chorus)