Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Roll Alabama


 

An English “sea shanty”, or shipboard working song, it chronicles the history of the most successful ship in the Confederate Navy, the C.S.S. Alabama.  The original author is unknown.

When the Alabama’s keel was laid
Roll, Alabama, Roll
Twas laid in the yard of Jonathan Laird
O Roll, Alabama, Roll

Twas laid in the yard of Jonathan Laird
Roll, Alabama, Roll
Twas laid in the town of Birkenhead
O Roll, Alabama, Roll

Down the Mersey way she rolled then
Roll, Alabama, Roll
Liverpool fitted her with guns and men
O Roll, Alabama, Roll

From the Western Isle she sailed forth
Roll, Alabama, Roll
To destroy the commerce of the North
O Roll, Alabama, Roll

To Cherbourg port she sailed one day
Roll, Alabama, Roll
To take her count of prize money
O Roll, Alabama, Roll

Many a sailor lad he met his doom
Roll, Alabama, Roll
When the Kearsarge it hove in view
O Roll, Alabama, Roll

Til a ball from the forward pivot that day
Roll, Alabama, Roll
Shot the Alabama’s stern away
O Roll, Alabama, Roll

Off the three mile limit in sixty-five*
Roll, Alabama, Roll
The Alabama went to her grave
O Roll, Alabama, Roll

No comments:

Post a Comment