Motley Words

There once was a ship that put to sea
The name of the ship was the Billy O’ Tea
The winds blew high and the winds blew low
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

The ship was just 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)

They launched a boat to catch that whale
The captain said we must not fail
The whale came up and lashed her tail
And took that ship in tow (huh)

For forty days or even more
The line went slack then tight once more
The ship was dragged far from the shore
But still that whale did go (huh)

As far as I’ve heard, the fight’s still on
The line’s not cut, and the whale’s not gone
The Billy O’Tea sails on and on
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
We’ll take our leave and go
We’ll take our leave and go (huh!)