Sinking of the Reuben James

SINKINGOF THE REUBEN JAMES

What weretheir 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

(Nowtell 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 weretheir 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