'Twas was laid in the yard of Jonathan Laird
  Roll, Alabama, roll
'Twas laid in the town of Birkenhead
  Oh, Roll, Alabama, roll

Down the Mersey way she rolled in
    Roll, Alabama, roll
Liverpool fitted her with guns and men
  Oh, Roll, Alabama, roll

From the Western Isles she sailed forth
  Roll, Alabama, roll
To destroy the commerce of the North
  Oh, Roll, Alabama, roll

To Cherbourg port she sailed one day
  Roll, Alabama, roll
To take her count of prize money
  Oh, Roll, Alabama, roll

Many a sailor lad foresaw his doom
  Roll, Alabama, roll
When {he saw} the Kearsarge hove in view
  Oh, Roll, Alabama, roll

Till a ball from the forward pivot that day
  Roll, Alabama, roll
Shot the Alabama's stern away
  Oh, Roll, Alabama, roll

Off the three-mile limit in sixty-five
  Roll, Alabama, roll
The Alabama went to her grave
  Oh, Roll, Alabama, roll