Oh! shipmates, come rally, and join in my ditty Of a terrible battle that happened of late Let each good Union tar shed a tear of sad pity As he listens to the once gallant Cumberland's fate It was the Eighth day of March oh this terrible story And many a tar to this world bid adieu But our flag it was wrapt in a mantle of glory By the heroic deeds of the Cumberland's crew On that ill-fated day about ten in the morning The sky it was clear, and bright shone the sun The drums of the Cumberland sounded a warning Bidding each gallant seaman to stand by his gun An iron-clad frigate down on us camе bearing While high in the air a rеbel flag flew A pennant of treason she proudly was waving Determined to conquer the Cumberland's crew ♪ So our noble ship fired her guns' dreadful thunder Her broadsides, like hail, on the Rebels did pour But our sailors gazed on, filled with terror, and wonder As our shots struck her sides and glanced harmlessly forth But the pride of our navy could never be daunted Tho' the dead and the dying our decks they did strew The flag of our Union how proudly she flaunted Sustained by the blood of the Cumberland's crew ♪ Three hours we fought them with stern resolution 'Til the rebels found cannon could never decide The flag of secession had no power to gall them Tho' the blood from her scuppers, did crimson the tide Then she struck us on mid-ships, our planks she did sever Her sharp iron prong pierced our noble ship through And still, though she splintered and listed hard over "We'll die at our guns!" cried the Cumberland's crew ♪ So slowly they sank 'neath Virginia's dark waters And their voices on earth will ne'er be heard more They'll be mourned by Columbia's brave sons and fair daughters May their blood be avenged on Virginia's shore In their battle-stained graves they are silently lying Their souls have forever to each bid adieu But the star-spangled banner above them is still flying For it was nailed to the mast by the Cumberland's crew