The Sinking of the Reuben James

Have you heard of a ship called the good Reuben James

Manned by hard-fighting men both of honor and fame?

She flew the Stars-and-Stripes of this land of the free

Tonight she's in her grave at the bottom of the sea

Tell me what was their names

Tell me what was their names

Did you have a friend on that good Reuben James?

What was their names

Tell me what was their names

Did you have a friend on that good Reuben James?

Well, a hundred men went down in that dark, watery grave

When that good ship went down only forty-four were saved

'Twas the last day of October, we saved the forty-four

From the cold ocean waters and the cold icy shore

Tell me what was their names

Tell me what was their names

Did you have a friend on that good Reuben James?

What was their names

Tell me what was their names

Did you have a friend on that good Reuben James?

It was there in the dark of that uncertain night

That we watched for the U-boats and waited for a fight

Then a whine and a rock and a great explosion roared

And they laid the Reuben James on that cold ocean floor

Tell me what was their names

Tell me what was their names

Did you have a friend on that good Reuben James?

What was their names

Tell me what was their names

Did you have a friend on that good Reuben James?

Now tonight there are lights in our country so bright

In the farms and in the cities they're telling of this fight

And now our mighty battleships will steam the bounding main

And remember the name of that good Reuben James

Tell me what was their names

Tell me what was their names

Did you have a friend on that good Reuben James?

What was their names

Tell me what was their names

Did you have a friend on that good Reuben James?