| There once was a ship that put to sea
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| And the name of that ship was the Billy o' Tea
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| The winds blew hard, her bow dipped down
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| Blow, me bully boys, blow (Huh!)
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| Soon may the Wellerman come
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| To bring us sugar and tea and rum
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| One day, when the tonguin' is done
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| We'll take our leave and go
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| She had not been two weeks from shore
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| When down on her, a right whale bore
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| The captain called all hands and swore
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| He'd take that whale in tow (Hah!)
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| Soon may the Wellerman come
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| To bring us sugar and tea and rum
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| One day, when the tonguin' is done
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| We'll take our leave and go
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| Before the boat had hit the water
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| The whale's tail came up and caught her
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| All hands to the side, harpooned and fought her
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| When she dived down below (Huh!)
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| Soon may the Wellerman come
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| To bring us sugar and tea and rum
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| One day, when the tonguin' is done
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| We'll take our leave and go
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| No line was cut, no whale was freed
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| The Captain's mind was not on greed
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| But he belonged to the whaleman's creed
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| She took that ship in tow (Huh!)
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| Soon may the Wellerman come
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| To bring us sugar and tea and rum
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| One day, when the tonguin' is done
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| We'll take our leave and go
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| For forty days, or even more
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| The line went slack, then tight once more
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| All boats were lost, there were only four
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| But still that whale did go
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| Soon may the Wellerman come
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| To bring us sugar and tea and rum
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| One day, when the tonguin' is done
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| We'll take our leave and go
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| As far as I've heard, the fight's still on
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| The line's not cut and the whale's not gone
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| The Wellerman makes his a regular call
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| To encourage the Captain, crew, and all
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| Soon may the Wellerman come
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| To bring us sugar and tea and rum
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| One day, when the tonguin' is done
|
| We'll take our leave and go
|
| 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 |