verse 1
G G D G
Have you heard of a ship called the good Reuben James
G D G
Manned by hard fighting men both of honor and fame?
G C G
She flew the Stars and Stripes of the land of the free
G D G
But tonight she's in her grave at the bottom of the sea.
G C Am
Tell me what were their names, tell me what were their names,
D C G
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James?
G C Am
What were their names, tell me, what were their names?
D C G
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James
verse 2
G G D G
Well, a hundred men went down in that dark watery grave
G D G
When that good ship went down only forty-four were saved.
G C G
'Twas the last day of October we saved the forty-four
G D G
From the cold ocean waters and the cold icy shore.
G C Am
Tell me what were their names, tell me what were their names,
D C G
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James?
G C Am
What were their names, tell me, what were their names?
D C G
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James
verse 3
G G D G
It was there in the dark of that uncertain night
G D G
That we watched for the U-boats and waited for a fight.
G C G
Then a whine and a rock and a great explosion roared
G D G
And they laid the Reuben James on that cold ocean floor.
G C Am
Tell me what were their names, tell me what were their names,
D C G
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James?
G C Am
What were their names, tell me, what were their names?
D C G
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James
verse 4
G G D G
Now tonight there are lights in our country so bright
G D G
In the farms and in the cities they're telling of the fight.
G C G
And now our mighty battleships will steam the bounding main
G D G
And remember the name of that good Reuben James.
G C Am
Tell me what were their names, tell me what were their names,
D C G
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James?
G C Am
What were their names, tell me, what were their names?
D C G
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James