“The Cumberland”
Description
The crew of the Cumberland, attacked by the CSS Virginia/Merrimac, fight back as best they can, though their shot bounces off the Confederate's armored hull. The Cumberland fights until it is rammed and sunk and goes down with all flags flying
Notes
For historical background on this song, see the notes to "The Cumberland Crew" [Laws A18].
To tell this song from "The Cumberland Crew," refer to this text:
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.
...
Was early in the morning, just at the break of day,
When our good ship the Cumberland lay anchored in the bay (cj.)
When a man from our masthead to those below did cry (cj.)
"There's something up to windward like a housetop I espy." - RBW
Historical references
- March 8, 1862 - U.S. frigates Congress and Cumberland sunk by the CSS Virginia (formerly USS Merrimack). The Minnesota runs aground; had not the Monitor arrived the next day, the Merrimac would have sunk that ship also
Same tune
- Raging Canal (per broadsides LOCSinging cw102120 and cw102130)
Cross references
- cf. "The Cumberland Crew" [Laws A18] (subject)
- cf. "Iron Merrimac" (subject)
Broadsides
- LOCSinging, cw102120, "The Good Ship Cumberland," A. W. Auner (Philadelphia), 19C; also cw102130, "Good Ship Cumberland"
Recordings
- Orlo Brandon, "The 'Merrimac'" (on GreatLakes1)
- "Yankee" John Galuha, "The Cumberland and the Merrimac" [excerpt] (on USWarnerColl01)
References
- Laws A26, "The Cumberland"
- FSCatskills 16, "The 'Merrimac'" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Warner 11, "The Cumberland and the Merrimac" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Peacock, pp. 909-910, "The Cumberland and the Merrimac" (1 text, 1 tune)
- BrownII 225, "The Cumberland" (1 text plus extensive excerpts from a broadside version)
- Creighton-NovaScotia 131, "Maggie Mac" (1 text, 1 tune)
- DT 597, CUMBMERR*
- Roud #630
- BI, LA26