The Wellerman Songtext
von Bryn Terfel

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
Oh blow, my bully boys, blow
Soon may the Wellerman come
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
One day, when the tonguing is done
We′ll take our leave and go

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 bring that whale in tow
Soon may the Wellerman come
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
One day, when the tonguing is done
We'll take our leave and go


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
Soon may the Wellerman come
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
One day, when the tonguing is done
We′ll take our leave and go

No line was caught, no whale was freed
The captain′s mind was not of greed
And he belonged to the whaleman's creed
She took that ship in tow
Soon may the Wellerman come
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
One day, when the tonguing is done
We′ll take our leave and go

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
Soon may the Wellerman come
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
One day, when the tonguing is done
We'll take our leave and go


As far as I know, 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
The Wellerman makes his regular call
To encourage the captain, crew, and all
And soon may the Wellerman come
To bring us sugar and tea and rum

One day, when the tonguing 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 tonguing 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 tonguing is done
We′ll take our leave and go