The Bill Bonyun Heirloom recording titled "The Civil War" was produced in 1961. Folk song collector and singer Frank Warner led the song and credits his source as The Harris Collection, Brown University. According to the track notes"

"Roll Alabama Roll" is a Civil War variant of the Negro roustabout shanty "Roll the Cotton Down. It is a beautifully concise life story of the great Confederate raider.

Here are the lyrics as included with the recording:

When the Alabama's keel was laid --
Roll, Alabama, roll!
It was laid in the yard of Jonathan Laird --
Roll, Alabama, roll!

'Twas laid in the yard of Jonathan Laird --
Roll, Alabama, roll!
'Twas laid in the town of Birkenhead --
Roll, Alabama, roll!

Down the Mersey ways she rolled then --
Roll, Alabama, roll!
Liverpool fitted her with guns and men --
Roll, Alabama, roll!

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

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

Many a sailor lad saw his doom --
Roll, Alabama, roll!
When the Kearsarge hoved into view --
Roll, Alabama, roll!

A ball from the forward pivot that day --
Roll, Alabama, roll!
Shot the Alabama's stern away --
Roll, Alabama, roll!

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

Cheerily,
Charley Noble