Soon May The Wellerman Come - Banjo - Folk Song

Soon May the Wellerman come is a sea shanty. It`s also known as The Wellerman or just Wellerman. The captain crew and all are out hunting the whale. This one is packed full of action, adventure and suspense! Will the whale be caught? I play it here on the banjo in the clawhammer style while singing it. I have a guitar version posted as well.

Soon May the Wellerman Come - lyrics
Clawhammer Banjo version

There once was a ship that put to sea,
And the name of the ship was the Billy of Tea
The winds blew up, her bow dipped low,
Oh blow, my bully boys, blow.

Soon may the Wellerman come
And bring us sugar and tea and rum.
One day, when the tonguing is done,
I'll take my leave and go.

She had not been two weeks from shore
When down on her right a whale bore.
The captain called all hands and swore
He'd take that whale in tow.

Soon may the Wellerman come
And bring us sugar and tea and rum.
One day, when the tonguing is done,
I'll take my 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
And bring us sugar and tea and rum.
One day, when the tonguing is done,
I'll take my leave and go.

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 the ship in tow.

Soon may the Wellerman come
And bring us sugar and tea and rum.
One day, when the tonguing is done,
I'll take my 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 the whale did go.

Soon may the Wellerman come
And bring us sugar and tea and rum.
One day, when the tonguing is done,
I'll take my leave and go.

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.

Soon may the Wellerman come
And bring us sugar and tea and rum.
One day, when the tonguing is done,
I'll take my leave and go.