Sea Shanty – Wellerman Lyrics
- Origins: The song dates back to 19th century New Zealand. It likely originated amongst shore whalers (whalers who operated from land-based stations).
- The Wellermen: The “Wellermen” were supply ships owned by the Weller brothers, a prominent trading and whaling company in Otago, New Zealand. Shore whalers eagerly awaited the Wellermen’s arrival, as they brought essential supplies like sugar, tea, and rum.
The Song’s Story
The song tells the story of a whaling ship named the Billy o’ Tea in pursuit of a particularly tough whale. The lyrics describe:
- The Hardship: The crew faces a long, arduous struggle at sea, battling storms and enduring a lack of supplies.
- Hope for the Wellerman: The men sing about their longing for a Wellerman ship to appear, bringing the longed-for provisions.
- The Final Stages: The whalers describe the final processes of catching the whale, specifically the “tonguin'” (flensing or cutting up the whale). They express confidence this will mark the end of their ordeal.
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Themes:
- Camaraderie and Resilience: The song emphasizes the shared experience of whalers, the spirit of working together through tough conditions, and a sense of determination.
- Dependence on Supply: It highlights the whalers’ essential reliance on supply ships and the joy with which the ships’ arrival was met.
- Life at Sea: The shanty provides a glimpse into the harsh and dangerous conditions whalers faced in the 19th century.
The TikTok Craze:
“Wellerman” gained newfound popularity when Scottish singer Nathan Evans posted a rendition on TikTok in 2021. His version went viral, sparking a sea shanty revival on social media.
Sea Shanty – Wellerman Lyrics
There once was a ship that put to sea
The name of the ship was the Billy O’ Tea
The winds blew up, her bow dipped down
Oh blow, my bully boys, blow (huh)
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 take that whale in tow (huh)
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
Da-da-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
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)
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
The captain’s mind was not of greed
And he belonged to the Whaleman’s creed
She took that ship in tow (huh)
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
Da-da-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
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)
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’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)
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.
