Reuben James
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.
[Chorus:]
Oh, tell me, what were their names, tell me, what were their names?
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James? (Repeat [Chorus]
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.
[Chorus]
It was there in the dark of that cold and watery night. They watched for the you-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.
[Chorus]
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!
[Chorus]
Autor(es): Almanac Singers / Woody Guthrie