Oh ship mates come gather,
That happened on late,
Let each Union tar shed a tear of his pity
When he thinks of the one's gallant,
Cumberland state, the eight-day of March
Told a terrible story, when many of brave tar
To this world bid adieu,
Our flag it was ramping, a mantle of Glory
By the heroic deeds, by the Cumberland crew!
On that ill-fated day, about ten in the morning,
The sky it was cloudless, and bright shone the sun,
The drums of the Cumberland, sounded a warning,
That told every seamen to stand-by his gun,
And for an iron-clad frigate, down on us came bearing,
High up in the air, who based rebel flag flew,
An emblem of treason she proudly was wearing,
Determine to conquer, the Cumberland crew!
Now up spoke the Captain, with stern resolution,
Saying, "Boys, of this monster, now, don't be afraid."
We'll swear to maintain our beloved constitution,
And to die for our country, we are not afraid,
We'll fight for our Union, or cause it is glorious
By the stars and stripes, we will ever stand true,
We'll sink at our quarters, our conquer victorious,
It is answered by cheers, by the Cumberland crew!
Our noble ship fired, huge gun's dreadful thunder,
Our broad sized-like hail, on the Rebel did pour,
The people did gazed, on struck with terror and wonder,
As the shot struck her side, and glanced harmlessly o'er,
The pride of our Navy, could never be daunted,
Though the decks with the dead, and the wounded did strew,
The Star-spangled banner, how proudly it flaunted,
And it was nailed to the mast,
By the Cumberland crew!
They fought us three-hours, with stern resolution
'Til this rebels found cannon, would never decide,
For the flag of secession, had no power to quell them,
Though the blood from our scampers, did crimson the tied,
She struck us some midship, our flanks she did sever,
Her sharp iron prow pierced our noble ship through,
And they cried as they sunken, the dark rolling river,
We'll die at our guns, drive the Cumberland crew!
Slowly she sunken, the dark rolling waters, there voices on Earth,
Will be heard never more, they'll be wept by Columbia's
Brave sons and fair daughters, may the Blood be avenged
On Virginia's old shore, and if there are sailors,
In the battle assemble,
God bless our dear banner, the Red, White, and Blue!
Beneath it's proud folds, that caused the tyrants to tremble,
We'll sink at our guns, drive by the Cumberland crew!