Unknown - Cumberland And The Merrimac Lyrics

Lyrics Directory >> U >> Unknown Singer Lyrics >> Cumberland And The Merrimac Song Lyrics

Artist:	Unknown
Song Title:	Cumberland And The Merrimac
Visits:	820

Print Version

The Cumberland and the Merrimac

Come all my jolly seamen, likewise you landsmen too.
It is a dreadful story I will unfold to you.
It's all about the Cumberland, the ship so true and brave
And it's many the loyal seamen that met a wat'ry grave.

It was early in the morning, just at the break of day,
When our good ship the Cumberland lay anchored in the bay,
When the man from on the lookout down to the rest did say:
"There is something like a housetop, to the larboard she does lay."

Then our captain took his telescope, and he gazed far o'er the blue.
Turning 'round he said as follows to his brave and loyal crew:
"That thing you see over yonder just like a turtle's back,
Is that cursed Rebel steamer they call the Merrimac!"

Then our decks were cleared for action, each gun was pointed true,
But still that Rebel steamer came steaming o'er the blue;
And on she kept a-coming till no distance did us part,
When she sent a ball a-humming that stilled the beat of many's the heart.

In vain we poured our broadsides into her ribs of steel,
But still no breach was in her, no damage did she feel.
Up stepped the Rebel commander, in a voice of thunder spoke,
"Pull down your flying colors, or I'll sink your Yankee boat!"

Then our captain's eyes did glisten, his face grew pale with rage,
And in a voice of thunder to the Rebel commander said,
"My crew is brave and loyal, and by me they will stand ,
And before I'll strike my colors you can sink me an be damned!"

Then this ironclad she left us a hundred yards or more,
The screeching and screaming of her balls our wooden sides she tore.
She struck us right amidships, her ram went crashing through,
And the waters they came pouring in on the brave and loyal crew.

Then our captain turned unto his men and unto them did say,
"I'll not leave the Cumberland while she does ride the wave,
It's you, my loyal comrades, may seek your lives to save,
But I'll go down with my gallant ship for to meet a watery grave.

They swore that they'd not leave her, and manned the guns afresh,
And broadside after broadside poured, till the waters reached their breasts.
And as they down went sinking, down in the briny deep,
The Stars and Stripes still floated from the maintop's highest peak!

From Frank Warner, Collected from John Galusha, NY 1941
Recorded by Warner, Stekert
@America @war @Civil @battle @sailor
filename[ CUMBMERR
play.exe CUMBMERR
RG
===DOCUMENT BOUNDARY

Cumberland And The Merrimac Lyrics at Lyricstrue

E-Mail, IM, Text :
Websites & Blogs :
Forums :


Other Unknown song Lyrics
99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall "Midnight Mass a yellow moon Wonder walked from my window Now she sings a different tune Golden tones, out of the blue..."	A Bird in a Gilded Cage "99 Bottles of Beer on the wall, 99 Bottles of Beer, If one of those bottles should happen to fall, 98 bottles of beer on the wall...."
A Fenian Song "A Bird in a Gilded Cage The ballroom was filled with fashion's throng, It shone with a thousand lights; And there was a woman who passed along,..."	A Fool Such As I "A Fenian Song 1. The Queen's Own Regiment was their name; From fair Toronto town they came To put the Irish all to shame -..."
A Friend Like You "I need a friend I can really depend on Not just someone funny or cool Someone who follows the Lord just like I do Don't wanna be the friend of a fool..."	A Hero of the Wrong War "A Gentleman of Exeter A gentleman of Exelter, He had but one only daughter dear. When she was scarce sixteen years of age,..."
A Horse Named Bill "A Hero of the Wrong War I recall the afternoon, I had just come home from school When the FBI came knocking on our door They were looking for my dad..."	A Hundred Years from Now "A HORSE NAMED BILL I had a horse, his name was Bill And when he ran, he couldn't stand still He ran away, one day And also, I ran with him..."