Verse 1:
Have you heard of a ship called the good Reuben James
Armed 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.
Chorus:
Oh, 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
Verse 2:
One hundred men went down to their dark watery graves.
When that good ship went down only forty-four were saved.
'Twas the last day of October they saved the forty-four
From the dark icy water off that cold Iceland shore.
Chorus:
Oh, 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
Verse 3:
It was there in the dark on that cold, watery night
They watched for the U-boats and they 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.
Chorus:
Oh, 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
Verse 4:
Many years have passed since those brave men are gone,
Those cold icy waters are still and their calm,
Many years have passed and still I wonder why,
The worst of men must fight and the best of men must die.
Chorus:
Oh, 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