It was on last Monday morning, just at the break of day
When the good ship of the Cumberland lay anchored on her way
The man upon the lookout to those below he say:
"I see something like a housetop, on our larboard she does lay"

The captain grabbed his telescope, and he gazed far o'er the blue.
Then he turned and spoke to his brave and loyal crew:
"That thing you see over yonder just like a turtle's back
That's cursed Rebel steamer they called her Merrimac!"

Our decks were cleared for action, and the guns were pointing true
Still she kept on coming across the water blue
Still she kept on coming 'til no distance did us part
She sent a ball a-humming, stilled the beat of many's the heart

It's then we poured our broadsides into her ribs of steel
Yet no break in the armor, no damage did she feel
Up stepped the Rebel pirate, unto our captain he spoke
"Strike down your Union colors or I'll sink your Yankee boat!"

Our captain's eyes did glisten and his cheeks turned pale with rage
Then in tones of thunder to the Rebel pirate he said
"My men are brave and loyal, and by me they will stand 
Before I'll strike my colors you may sink me in the sea"

Then the Merrimac she left us for 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
The water came pouring in on the brave and loyal crew

Well our captain turned unto his men and unto them he did say
"I'll never strike these colors while the Cumberland rides the waves
 I'll go down with my gallant ship to meet a watery grave
But for you, my loyal comrades, you may seek your lives to save

They swore they never would leave him and they manned the guns afresh
And broadside after broadside poured 'til the waters reached their breasts.
And as they down went sinking, far down in the watery deep
The Stars and Stripes still floated from the maintop's highest peak!