Reuben James

(album: Close-Up - 1961)

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

Oh, tell me, what were their names
Tell me, what were their names?
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James?

Oh, 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
'Twas the last day of October they saved forty-four
From the dark, icy water 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?

It was there in the dark of that cold and watery night
They watched for the U-boats and they waited for a fight
Then a whine and a rock and a great explosion's roar
They lay 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?

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?