C G C
Have you heard of a ship called the good Reuben James
C G C
Armed by hard fighting men both of honor and fame?
C F C
She flew the Stars and Stripes of the land of the free
C G C
But tonight she’s in her grave at the bottom of the sea.
Chorus:
C C7 F Dm
Oh, Tell me what were their names, tell me what were their names,
G F C
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James?
C F Dm
What were their names, tell me, what were their names?
G F C
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James
Verse 2:
C G C
One hundred men went down to their dark watery graves.
C G C
When that good ship went down only forty-four were saved.
C F C
‘Twas the last day of October they saved the forty-four
C G C
From the dark icy water off that cold Iceland shore.
Chorus:
C C7 F Dm
Oh, Tell me what were their names, tell me what were their names,
G F C
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James?
C F Dm
What were their names, tell me, what were their names?
G F C
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James
Verse 3:
C C G C
It was there in the dark on that cold, watery night
C G C
They watched for the U-boats and they waited for a fight.
C F C
Then a whine and a rock and a great explosion roared
C G C
And they laid the Reuben James on that cold ocean floor.
Chorus:
C C7 F Dm
Oh, Tell me what were their names, tell me what were their names,
G F C
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James?
C F Dm
What were their names, tell me, what were their names?
G F C
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James
Verse 4:
C G C
Many years have passed since those brave men are gone,
G C
Those cold icy waters are still and their calm,
F C
Many years have passed and still I wonder why,
G C
The worst of men must fight and the best of men must die.
Chorus:
C C7 F Dm
Oh, Tell me what were their names, tell me what were their names,
G F C
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James?
C F Dm
What were their names, tell me, what were their names?
G F C
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James
