Sinking of the Reuben James lyrics

What were their names

Tell me what were their names

Did you have a friend

On the Good Reuben James

Have you heard of a ship

Called that good Reuben James

Stand by hard fighting men

Both of honor and fame

She flew the stars and stripes

Of the land of the free

But tonight she's in her grave

At the bottom of the sea

(Now tell me) What were their names

Tell me what were their names

Did you have a friend

On the Good Reuben James

(Now tell me) What were their names

Tell me what were their names

Did you have a friend

On the Good Reuben James

[banjo]

It wast here in the dark

Of that uncertain night

That we waited for U-boats

And waited for that fight

Then a whine and a rock

And the great explosion roared

And they laid that Reuben James

On the cold ocean floor

(Nowtell me) What were their names

Tell me what were their names

Did you have a friend

On the Good Reuben James

[guitar]

Now tonight there are lights

In our country so bright

On the farms and the cities

They're tellin' of that fight

And now our mighty battle ships

Will sail the bounding main

And remember the name

Of that Good Reuben James

(Nowtell me) What were their names

Tell me what were their names

Did you have a friend

On the Good Reuben James

What were their names

Tell me what were their names

Did you have a friend

On the Good Reuben James

(Now tell me) What were their names

Tell me what were their names

Did you have a friend

On the Good Reuben James

• Artist:Johnny Horton
• Album:Johnny Horton Makes History (1960)