Sinking of the Reuben James

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

Run by hard fighting men, both of honor and fame

She flew the stars and stripes for the land of the free

But tonight she's in her grave at the bottom of the sea

Oh, tell me what were their names, tell me what were their names

Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James?

Tell me 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 graves

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

T'was the last of October, they save the forty-four

From the dark, icy waters of that cold Iceland shore

Oh, tell me what were their names, tell me what were their names

Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James?

Tell me 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 cold and water night

They watched for the U-Boats, they waited for a fight

Then a whine and a rock and a great explosion's roar

They laid the Reuben James on that cold ocean floor

Oh, tell me what were their names, tell me what were their names

Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James?

Tell me what were their names, tell me what were their names

Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James?

Many years have passed since those brave men are gone

Those cold, icy waters, they're still and they're calm

Many years have passed and still I wonder why

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

Oh, tell me what were their names, tell me what were their names

Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James?

Tell me what were their names, tell me what were their names

Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James?