Oh, in eighteen hundred an’ sixty one, Roll, Alabama, roll! This ship, her building wuz begun. Roll, Alabama, roll! Roll, Alabama, roll Alabama, Ro-o-o-oll, Roll, Alabama! Roll, Alabama, roll!
When the Alabama’s keel was laid, This ship, her building was begun.
Oh, she was built in Birkenhead, Built in the yard of Jonathan Laird.
At first she was called the two-ninety-two, For the merchants of the city of Liverpool.
And down the Mersey she rolled one day, And across the western sea ploughed her way.
With British guns, oh, she was stocked, She sailed from Fayal, in Cherbourg she was docked.
To fight the North Semmes did employ, Any method to kill and destroy.
But off Cherbourg the Kearsarge lay tight, Awaiting was Winslow spoiling to fight.
The Kearsarge won - Alabama so brave, Sank to the bottom to a watery grave.
Pontana-versjon:
When the Alabama’s keel wuz laid. Roll, Alabama, roll! It wuz in the city of Birkenhead. Roll, Alabama, roll! They called her no 292, Roll, Alabama, roll! On orders of the merchants of Liverpool. Roll, Alabama, roll! Roll, Alabama, roll Alabama, Ro-o-o-oll, Roll, Alabama! Roll, Alabama, roll!
To the Western Isles she made her run, To be fitted out with shot and guns. From 62 to 64, She took 60 yankey ships or more.
It wuz early in a summer’s day, Capt’n Simsy docked in Cherbourg Bay. It wuz there she met the ship Kearsarge, With Cap’n Winslow in the charge.
Outside the three-mile limit they fought, Great navy steel an’ navy shot. Till a shot from the forw’d pivot, they say, Took the Alabama’s gear away.
(Reduce tempo)
Then the British did the crewmen save, From shearing their vessel’s watery grave. Roll, Alabama, roll! Roll, Alabama, roll Alabama, Ro-o-o-oll, Roll, Alabama! Roll, Alabama, roll!
