SOON MAY THE WELLERMAN COME
(Anon)

There 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
Oh blow me bully boys blow

Chorus
Soon may the Wellerman come
And 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 wright whale bore
The captain called all hands and swore
He’d take that whale in tow

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

No line was cut, no whale was freed
The captain’s mind was not of greed
But he belonged to the wheelman’s creed
She took the ship in tow

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

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

Shore-whalers, unlike whalers on ships, could not return to their native lands. Even if there were a ship, they couldn’t afford the passage for they saw no money. Whaling companies, such as Wellers of Sydney, sent agents across the Tasman to collect the bone and oil and to pay the men in sugar and rum. When the companies ceased to operate, the men began to work on their own - whaling, some fishing, a little farming.’Song of a Young Country’ p10.

Youtube clip

--Stewie.