Active from 1862 to 1864, the C.S.S. Alabama burnt 65 Union ships and sank one, before it itself was sunk. Its stop in Cape Town in 1863 caused a sensation, since Boers were pro the Confederacy. There's even an Afrikaans song about the Alabama:
Daar Kom Die Alibama
Daar kom die Alibama, die Alibama hy kom oor die see
Daar kom die Alibama, die Alibama hy kom oor die see
Nooi, nooi, die rietkooi, nooi, die rietkooi is gemaak
Die rietkooi is vir my gemaak om daarop te slaap
Nooi, nooi, die rietkooi, nooi, die rietkooi is gemaak
Die rietkooi is vir my gemaak om daarop te slaap
Die Alibama, die Alibama, die Alibama kom oor die see
Die Alibama, die Alibama, die Alibama kom oor die see
Januarie Februarie Maart
April May June July
Januarie Februarie Maart
April May June July
August September October November December
August September October November December
Januarie Februarie Maart
April May June July
Daar kom die Alibama, die Alibama hy kom oor die see
Daar kom die Alibama, die Alibama hy kom oor die see
Nooi, nooi, die rietkooi, nooi, die rietkooi is gemaak
Die rietkooi is vir my gemaak om daarop te slaap
Nooi, nooi, die rietkooi, nooi, die rietkooi is gemaak
Die rietkooi is vir my gemaak om daarop te slaap
Die Alibama, die Alibama, die Alibama kom oor die see
Die Alibama, die Alibama, die Alibama
Hy kom oor die see
4 comments:
Damn, I know that song from my childhood, its a 100% Cape Coloured song, but I had no idea that it was about an American ship. Always thought it was about some slave ship, but never understood why people would sing so merrily about a slave ship.
It's amazing a song written so long ago has survived to this day, and it was inspired by a foreign ship being in port for just a few days.
I just embedded a video so people can hear this rousing song!
P.S. The Alabama was in Cape Town twice, but for how many days altogether, I'm not sure. It was there not just to pick up supplies but sell loot from conquered Union ships.
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