The Sinking of the Reuben James lyrics

Have you heard of the ship called the good Reuben James?

And by hard fighting men, both of honor and of 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.

Tell 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?

One hundred men went down to their dark and watery grave,

When that good ship went down, only fourty-four were saved.

Was the last day of October, they saved fourty-four,

From the cold icy waters by the cold Iceland shore.

Tell 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?

It was there in the dark of that uncertain night,

They watched for the U-Boat and waited for a fight,

Then a whine and a rock and a great explosion roared,

And they lay the Reuben James on the cold ocean floor.

Tell 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?

Well, many years have passed since those brave men are gone,

In those cold icy waters, now they're still and they're calm,

Many years have passed, but still I wonder why,

The worst of men must fight and the best of men must die.

Tell 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?

What were their names? Tell me what were their names?

Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James?

• Artist:The Weavers