Lyrics:

SINKINGOF THE REUBEN JAMES

What were their 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
Manned 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

(Now tell 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 a great explosion roared
And they laid that Reuben James on the cold ocean floor

(Now tell 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

(Now 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 tell me) What were their names tell me what were their names
Did you have a friend on the Good Reuben James