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There once was a ship that put to sea 00:01
and the name of the ship was the Billy of Tea 00:03
The winds blew hard, her bow dipped down 00:06
blow, me bully boys, blow (hey!) 00:08
Soon may the Wellerman come 00:09
To bring us sugar and tea and rum 00:11
One day when the tonguing is done, we'll take our leave and go 00:13
She'd not been two weeks from shore 00:17
When down on her a right whale bore 00:19
The captain called all hands and swore 00:21
He'd take that whale in tow (hey!) 00:23
Soon may the Wellerman come 00:25
To bring us sugar and tea and rum 00:27
One day when the tonguing is done 00:29
We'll take our leave and go 00:31
Before the boat had hit the water 00:41
The whale's tail came up and caught her 00:43
All hands to the side, harpooned and fought her 00:45
When she dived down low (huh) 00:47
Soon may the Wellerman come 00:49
To bring us sugar and tea and rum 00:51
One day, when the tonguing is done 00:53
We'll take our leave and go 00:55
We'll take our leave and go, we'll take our leave and go 00:57
We'll take our leave and go, Oh blow me bully boys, blow (hey!) 01:01
Soon may the Wellerman come 01:05
To bring us sugar and tea and rum 01:07
One day when the tonguing is done 01:09
We'll take our leave and go 01:11
There once was a ship that put to sea 01:29
and the name of the ship was the Billy of Tea 01:31
The winds blew up, her bow dipped down 01:33
Blow me bully boys, blow (hey!) 01:35

Wellerman – English Lyrics

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By
Gummibär
Viewed
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Language
English
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Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the whimsical world of 'Wellerman' by Gummibär, a modern, lighthearted rendition of a traditional sea shanty. Its catchy and repetitive tune makes it an ideal song for English language learners. Through its simple yet engaging narrative lyrics, you can learn vocabulary related to sailing and history, while the playful animation offers a fun and memorable way to immerse yourself in English culture.

[English]

There once was a ship that put to sea
and the name of the ship was the Billy of Tea
The winds blew hard, her bow dipped down
blow, me bully boys, blow (hey!)
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 (hey!)
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 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
We'll take our leave and go, we'll take our leave and go
We'll take our leave and go, Oh blow me bully boys, blow (hey!)
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
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 down
Blow me bully boys, blow (hey!)

Key Vocabulary

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Vocabulary Meanings

ship

/ʃɪp/

A1
  • noun
  • - a large watercraft that travels on seas or oceans

sea

/siː/

A1
  • noun
  • - the large body of salt water that covers most of the earth

bow

/baʊ/

A2
  • noun
  • - the front part of a ship

whale

/weɪl/

A2
  • noun
  • - a very large marine mammal

captain

/ˈkæptən/

A2
  • noun
  • - the person in command of a ship

hands

/hændz/

A2
  • noun
  • - crew members of a ship (often called 'hands')

harpooned

/ˈhɑːrpʊnd/

B2
  • verb
  • - to pierce with a harpoon

fought

/fɔːt/

A2
  • verb
  • - to engage in a struggle or combat

tail

/teɪl/

A1
  • noun
  • - the rear part of an animal or a ship

water

/ˈwɔːtər/

A1
  • noun
  • - a clear, colorless liquid that forms the seas, rivers and rain

tonguing

/ˈtʌŋɡɪŋ/

B2
  • verb
  • - the act of using the tongue, especially to articulate speech or music

leave

/liːv/

A2
  • verb
  • - to go away from a place

blow

/bloʊ/

A1
  • verb
  • - to move air out of the mouth or through something

bully

/ˈbʊli/

A2
  • noun
  • - a person who intimidates or harms others

wellerman

/ˈwɛləmən/

C1
  • noun
  • - the name of a whaling supply ship mentioned in the song

sugar

/ˈʃʊɡər/

A1
  • noun
  • - a sweet crystalline substance obtained from sugarcane or beet

tea

/tiː/

A1
  • noun
  • - a hot drink made by infusing dried leaves in boiling water

rum

/rʌm/

B1
  • noun
  • - a distilled alcoholic beverage made from sugarcane by-products

tow

/toʊ/

B1
  • verb
  • - to pull something, especially a vehicle, behind another

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Key Grammar Structures

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