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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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