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Version 1
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 this land of the free
G D G
But tonight she's in her grave on the bottom of the sea.
(Chorus)
G C Am
Tell me what was their names, tell me what was their names,
D C G
Did you have a friend on that good Reuben James?
G C Am
What was their names, tell me, what was their names?
D C G
Did you have a friend on that 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 that cold icy shore.
(Chorus)
G C Am
Tell me what was their names, tell me what was their names,
D C G
Did you have a friend on that good Reuben James?
G C Am
What was their names, tell me, what was their names?
D C G
Did you have a friend on that 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 the 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.
(Chorus)
G C Am
Tell me what was their names, tell me what was their names,
D C G
Did you have a friend on that good Reuben James?
G C Am
What was their names, tell me, what was their names?
D C G
Did you have a friend on that 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, in the cities they're telling of this fight.
G C G
Now our mighty battleships will steam the bounding main
G D G
And remember the name of that good Reuben James.
((Chorus)
G C Am
Tell me what was their names, tell me what was their names,
D C G
Did you have a friend on that good Reuben James?
G C Am
What was their names, tell me, what was their names?
D C G
Did you have a friend on that good Reuben James