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?