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
- The CSS Alabama was sunk by the USS Kearsarge on 19 June 1864.
— Roll, Alabama, Roll!