The Wellerman

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 2

What do you think of when you hear the words: Sea Shanty?

Do you have TikTok installed on your phone/laptop?

Yes

No

Do you use TikTok daily?

Yes, every day.

Sometimes

Never

Have you heard of the Sea Shanty music that is very popular right now on TikTok?

Yes, definitely!

Maybe

No, not at all

The Wellerman - Nathan Evans

TikTok sensation Nathan Evans dropped this cover of the sea shanty 

The Wellerman. 

Soon, people started joining in and the result was a beautiful

orchestra of people singing a swashbuckling song.

The song and other sea shanties took off on TikTok and people

started singing them together via TikTok during lockdown.

How high is Wellerman up in the charts?

1. 1st
2. 2nd
3. 3rd
4. 4th

What does Nathan think about his transition from postman to pop star?

1. He doesn't really feel a difference.
2. He hates it and wants to quit as soon as the hype is over.
3. He finds it terrifying how quickly it went.
4. He hasn't had time to think about it.

What does the music remind the hosts of being in?

1. A club
2. A pub
3. At home with family
4. A festival

With which artist does Nathan want to collaborate in the future?

1. Michael Ball
2. David Guetta
3. Ed Sheeran
4. Sam Smith

The Wellerman

Let's look at the lyrics of the song and the meaning of words and sentences.

Afterwards, we'll look at the origins of sea shanties and why they were used.

At the end, there will be a pop quiz about the things that I am going to tell. Make sure to listen closely!

There once was a ship that put to sea

And the name of that ship was the Billy o' Tea

The winds blew hard, her bow dipped down

Blow, me bully boys, blow (huh)

What does ''Bully'' mean in Bully Boys

1. Annoying
2. Fine
3. Agressive
4. Strong

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

What does Tonguin' mean?

1. Whale Hunting
2. Selling goods across the world
3. Sailing the ship
4. French Kissing

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 (huh)

What does ''She'' refer to?

How could you rephrase ''To take that whale in tow''?

Soon may the Wellerman

.......

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 below (huh)

(Wellerman chorus again)

Why do you think that the song can be sung endlessly?

The Wellerman

A lot of ships participated in whale hunting. Whales were valuable for their meat and their whale oil, which is used in medical supplies. 

The Wellerman is a folksong/sea shanty from New Zealand. The song is about supply ships from The Weller Brothers, which were called Wellerman by the people. 

The crew of the supply ships used these songs to get through the days. They were exposed to harsh labour for too little money and were away from home for many days. They were on a ship together and to fight their depression and sad thoughts, they would band together and sing songs while working to make it all bearable.

Sea Shanties originated from Irish and Scottish folk songs and are used a lot by working men. These songs would usually have a certain rhythm which makes it easier to combine with working. Other songs are Drunken Sailor and Johnny leave her. (Also used on TikTok!)

What was whale oil used for?

1. To make food tastier
2. Medical products
3. Beauty products
4. Shaving cream

Where did Sea Shanties originate from?

1. New Zealand and Ireland
2. Ireland and Wales
3. Ireland and Scotland
4. The United Kingdom

Why were shanties sung by the men on the ships?

1. To get through tough times together.
2. Because they were forced to.
3. For talent shows each night on deck.
4. For fun.

Where does the Wellerman originate from? (The song)

1. Scotland
2. New Zealand
3. Australia
4. Ireland

How could you link people singing sea shanties in the past to present day corona lockdown?

Writing assignment

Write a pirate story of about 100 words.

Use the knowledge you gained from this lesson and

be as creative as you like.

Inspiration: Think of movies like 

Pirates of the Caribbean or look up songs online.