| I | |
| There once was a ship / that put to sea The name of the ship / was the Billy of Tea The winds blew up, / her bow dipped down O blow, my bully boys, blow (Huh!) | a d a a E a |
| Ref. | |
| 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 | F C d a F C E a |
| II | |
| She’d 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!) | |
| Ref. | |
| Ref. (da-da-da) | |
| III | |
| 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 low (Huh!) | |
| Ref. | |
| IV | |
| 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 that ship in tow (Huh!) | |
| Ref. | |
| Ref. (da-da-da) | |
| V | |
| 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 (Huh!) | |
| Ref. | |
| VI | |
| 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 (Huh!) | |
| Ref. |
