A Toast to the Alabama

The wind blows off yon rocky shore,
Boys! set your sails all free;
And soon our booming cannon’s roar
Shall ring out merrily.
Run up your bunting taught a-peak,
And swear, lads, to defend her;
‘Gainst every foe, where ‘er we go,
Our motto “No Surrender!”

Chorus:

Then sling the bowl, drink ev’ry soul,
A toast to the Alabama;
What e’er our lot, through storm or shot,
Here’s success to the Alabama!

Our country calls all hands to arms,
We hear but to obey;
Nor shall home’s most endearing charms
Steal one weak thought away,
Our saucy craft shall roam the deep,
We’ve sworn, lads, to defend her;
Trim, taught and tight, we’ll brave the fight,
Our motto “No Surrender!”

Chorus

Our home is on the mountain wave,
Our flag floats proudly free;
No boasting despot, tyrant, knave,
Shall crush fair Liberty.
Firmly we’ll aid her glorious cause,
We’ll die, boys, to defend her;
We’ll brave the foe, where’er we go,
Our motto “No Surrender!”

Chorus

Boys! if perchance it may befall,
When storm of battle raves,
By shot or shell our noble hull
Shall sink beneath the waves,
Yet while a plank to us is left
To death we will defend her;
Facing the foe, down, down we’ll go,
But still cry “No Surrender!”

Chorus.

— A Nautical Song. The Alabama. Respectfully dedicated to the gallant Captain Semmes, his officers and crew, and to the officers and seamen of the C. S. Navy;
E. King, author of the Naval Songs of the South.

Author: Christian Clay Columba Campbell

Christian Clay Columba Campbell is a Roman Catholic of the Anglican Use. As Senior Warden of the Cathedral of the Incarnation (Orlando, FL), he organised the process by which the parish accepted the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus, petitioning to join the Catholic Church. The Anglican Cathedral is now the Church of the Incarnation in the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. Personal queries should be directed to me at eccentricbliss dot com. View all posts by Christian Clay Columba Campbell