"Wellerman The"

No personal notes.

A well-known whaling song from New Zealand, c 1860. The shanty frequently refers to ships owned by the Weller Brothers, who were major suppliers of shore whalers. Employees became known as "wellermen." Instead of wages, workers at bay-whaling stations were paid in slops (ready made clothing), spirits and tobacco." The song describes how the crew hopes that "wellerman" will bring them supplies. Tonguing refers to the tonguers, the part of a shore team responsible for butchering the whale after it had been caught. While its authorship is unknown, it was likely written by a teenage sailor or shore whaler.

Wellerman1
Traditional New Zealand whaling song, c. 1860-70

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,
O blow, my bully boys, blow.

Chorus	
Soon may the Wellerman come
To bring us sugar and tea and rum.
One day, when the tonguin' 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.

Chorus 

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.

Chorus 

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.

Chorus 

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.

Chorus 

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.

Chorus x2