The Wellerman

There once was a ship that put to sea
And the name of that ship was the Billy o’ Tea
The winds blew hard, her bow dipped down
Blow, me bully boys, blow.

Refrain

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

Refrain

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.

Refrain

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.

Refrain

No line was cut, no whale was freed;
The Captain’s mind was not on greed
But he belonged to the whaleman’s creed;
She took that ship in tow.

Refrain

For forty days, or even more
The line went slack, then tight once more
All boats were lost, there were only four
But still that whale did go

Refrain

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 a regular call
To encourage the Captain, crew, and all

Refrain

Music: Traditional 19th Century, New Zealand (1860-1870)

Greensleeves/What Child Is This

Alas my love, you do me wrong
To cast me off discourteously;
And I have loved you oh so long,
Delighting in your company,

Refrain

Greensleeves was all my joy,
Greensleeves was my delight.
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who, but my Lady Greensleeves.

I have been ready at your hand
To grant whatever thou would’st crave;
I have waged both life and land
Your love and goodwill for to have.

Refrain

Thy petticoat of slender white
With gold embroidered gorgeously;
Thy petticoat of silk and white
And these I bought gladly.

Refrain

Lyrics and Music: Traditional 16th Century

What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor

What shall we do with a drunken sailor,
What shall we do with a drunken sailor,
What shall we do with a drunken sailor,
Early in the morning?

Refrain:
Hoo-ray and up she rises
Hoo-ray and up she rises
Hoo-ray and up she rises
Early in the morning

Put/chuck him in the long boat ’til he’s sober.


Early in the morning

Put him in the long-boat and make him bail her.

What shall we do with a drunken soldier?

Put/lock him in the guard room ’til he gets sober.

Put him in the scuppers with a hosepipe on him.

Lyrics and Music: Traditional 19th Century

Danny Boy

Oh, Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side.
The summer’s gone, and all the roses falling,
It’s you, it’s you must go and I must abide.

But come ye back when summer’s in the meadow,
Or when the valley’s hushed and white with snow,
It’s I’ll be here in sunshine or in shadow,
Oh, Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so!

But when ye come, and all the flowers are dying,
If I am dead, as dead I well may be,
You’ll come and find the place where I am lying,
And kneel and say an Ave there for me.

And I shall hear, though soft you tread above me,
And all my grave will warmer, sweeter be,
For you will bend and tell me that you love me,
And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me!

Lyrics: Traditional Gaelic
Tune: Traditional

Amazing Grace


Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind but now I see

Was Grace that taught my heart to fear
And Grace, my fears relieved
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed

Through many dangers, toils and snares
We have already come
T’was Grace that brought us safe thus far
And Grace will lead us home
And Grace will lead us home

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind but now I see
Was blind but now I see

Lyrics: John Newton (1725 – 1807)
Tune: Traditional

Glad That I Live Am I

Glad that I live am I,
That the sky is blue,
Glad for the country lanes
And the fall of dew.
After the sun the rain,
After the rain the sun;
This is the way of life,
Till the work be done.
All that we need to do,
Be we low or high,
Is to see that we grow
Nearer the sky.

Lyrics: L. W. Reese (1856-1935)
Tune: Geoffrey Shaw (1879-1943)

Rejoice In The Lord Always

Round in 2 parts

Rejoice in the Lord always,
And again I say rejoice,
Rejoice in the Lord always,
And again I say rejoice,

Rejoice, rejoice,
And again I say rejoice.
Rejoice, rejoice,
And again I say rejoice.

Anon

Far Round the World

Far round the world thy children sing their song;
From east and west their voices sweetly blend,
Praising the Lord, in whom young lives are strong,
Jesus our Guide, our Hero, and our Friend.

Guide to the pilgrim clambering to the height,
Hero on whom our fearful hearts depend,
Friend of the wanderer yearning for the light,
Jesus our guide, our hero, and our friend.

Where thy wide ocean, wave on rolling wave,
Beats through the ages on each island shore,
They praise their Lord, whose hand alone can save,
Whose sea of love surrounds them evermore.

All round the world let children sing thy song:
From east and west their voices sweetly blend,
Praising the Lord in whom young lives are strong,
Jesus our Guide, our Hero, and our Friend.

Lyrics: Basil J. Mathews (1879-1951)
Tune: Walter Greatorex (1877-1949)

Over The Hills And Far Away

Here’s forty shillings on the drum
For those who volunteer to come,
To ’list and fight the foe today
Over the Hills and far away.

Chorus

O’er the hills and o’er the main
Through Flanders, Portugal and Spain
King George commands and we obey
Over the hills and far away

When duty calls me I must go
To stand and face another foe
But part of me will always stray
Over the hills and far away

Chorus

If I should fall to rise no more
As many comrades did before
Then ask the fifes and drums to play
Over the hills and far away

Chorus

Then fall in lads behind the drum
With colours blazing like the sun
Along the road to come what may
Over the hills and far away

Chorus x4