The Sinking Of The Reuben James

Album: The Asch Recordings (1944)
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  • 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 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

    Well, a hundred men went down in that dark watery grave
    When that good ship went down only forty-four were saved
    That was the last day of October we saved the forty-four
    From the cold ocean waters and the cold icy 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 you-boats and waited for a fight
    Then a whine and a rock and a 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 Writer/s: WOODY GUTHRIE
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 2

  • Alan Dixler from New JerseyFYI, the USS Reuben James was a destroyer, not a battleship.
  • Joe from Preston, CtThe Reuben James was a destroyer not a battleship.
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