The Sinking of the Reuben James

Have you heard of a ship called the good Reuben James

Manned by hard working 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 on 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 were drowned in that dark watery grave

When that good ship went down only 44 were saved

was the last day of october we saved the 44

from that cold icy waters of that 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

that we watched for the u-boats and waited for a fight

then a whine and a rock, and the great explosion roared

and they laid the Reuben James on that 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?

Now tonight there are lights in our country so bright

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

and now our mighty battleships

Will steam the bounding main

and remember the name of that 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?

What were their names?

Tell me: what were their names?

Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James?

• Artist:The Almanac Singers