Have you heard of a ship called the good Reuben James
Manned by hard fighting men both of honor and fame?
She flew the Stars and Stripes of this land of the free
Tonight she's in her grave on the bottom of the sea
Tell me what was their names, tell me what was their names
D'you have a friend on that good Reuben James?
What was their names, tell me, what was their names?
D'you have a friend on that good Reuben James?
Well, a hundred men went down in that dark watery grave
When that good ship went down only forty-four were saved
'Twas the last day of October we saved the forty-four
From the cold ocean waters of that cold icy shore
Tell me what was their names, tell me what was their names
D'you have a friend on that good Reuben James?
What was their names, tell me, what was their names?
D'you have a friend on that good Reuben James?
♪
It was there in the dark of that uncertain night
That we watched for the U-boats and waited for the fight
Then a whine and a rock and a great explosion roared
And laid the Reuben James on that cold ocean floor
Tell me what was their names, tell me what was were their names
D'you have a friend on that good Reuben James?
What was their names, tell me, what was their names?
D'you have a friend on that good Reuben James?
Now tonight there are lights in our country so bright
In the farms, in the cities they're telling of this fight
Now our mighty battleships will steam the bounding main
And remember the name of that good Reuben James
Tell me what was their names, tell me what was were their names
D'you have a friend on that good Reuben James?
What was their names, tell me, what was their names?
D'you have a friend on that good Reuben James?