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 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

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 below

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 cut, no whale was freed An' the captain's mind was not on greed But 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 And 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