This is a dance for six, done to the Nathan Evans version of ‘The Wellerman’.
Ideally, it’s performed to the popular version of the song on YouTube – it’s the only dance we don’t normally use live music for.
But if that isn’t an option, we do have the sheet music.

There is a repeating pattern in both versions of the music of ABABB, repeated three times.

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The Wellerman

There once was a ship that put to sea The name of the ship was the Billy O’ Tea The winds blew up, her bow dipped down Oh blow, my bully boys, blow (huh)	CIRCULAR CLASHES – 16 counts Count the four introductory drumbeats and do the first clash on the word ‘ONCE’ Move swords in steady circle with partner, clashing high forehand, low backhand.
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	HEY ON THE SIDE – 16 counts Hey started by top couple passing right shoulders with the middle couple.  Continue hey and get back to place.
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 (huh)	CIRCLE-TRIANGLE – 32 counts Form a ring and circle for 8 steps.  You should end up exactly half way round from where you started. Number 1 and the person diagonally opposite them (‘first corners’) hold onto both their swords to form one corner of a triangle along with the dancers on each side of them.  Each triangle rotates for 8 on the spot. Each person should end up where they were at the start of the triangle move.
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	Circle for 8, to get back to your normal position in the dance. Triangle for 8 ending up in your normal position.
Da-da-da-da-da Da-da-da-da-da-da-da Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da	BACK TO BACK – 16 counts Right shoulder with your partner, Left shoulder with partner.
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)	POUSETTE – 32 counts Number 1 will start with a push. The second couple move in the opposite direction to the first. The third couple do two steps in the same direction as couple two, and then two back to centre, before starting the normal pattern.
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	A pousette is basically a sideways hey for couples. Remember 4 steps from centre to side, and four back.
No line was cut, no whale was freed The captain’s mind was not of greed And he belonged to the Whaleman’s creed She took that ship in tow (huh)	DIP AND DIVE – 32 counts First four beats, all couples face up the set and do a roll going up and over. Top couple dip first. Every couple gets a solo roll at each end of the set.
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	In the last 4 beats, all couples face up the set and do a roll going up and over.
Da-da-da-da-da Da-da-da-da-da-da-da Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da	BACK TO BACK – 16 counts Right shoulder with your partner, Left shoulder with partner.
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 (huh)	ROTOR – 32 counts Number 1 goes under arch made by couple opposite – form set into line. 4 steps to form line, 4 on spot Rotate line clockwise for 8 (Ideally finish lining up along the road)
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	4 steps out, 4 steps back in. Rotate clockwise for 8 (Must finish lining up along the road)
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 (huh)	GRAND HEY – 32 counts Centre pair in line turn to face each other. Each end pair face each other. Keep heying until the music reaches ‘take our leave and GO’
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	On ‘go’, continue in the direction you were facing, heying If there is someone coming towards you, and going off into a circle clockwise, waving swords in the air, if there is not.
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!	Continue circling – 16 counts On final ‘take our leave and GO’ turn to face audience and bow, holding sword over head in both hands.