C F C G C
[Verse 1]
C G C
Have you heard of a ship called the good Reuben James
G C
Manned by hard fighting men both of honor and of fame
F C
She flew the Stars and Stripes for the land of the free
G C
But tonight she's in her grave at the bottom of the sea
[Chorus]
C F D
Tell me, what were their names, tell me what were their names
G C
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James
C F D
What were their names, tell me what were their names
G C
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James
[Verse 2]
C G C
One hundred men went down to their dark and watery grave
G C
When that good ship was sunk only forty-four were saved
F C
T’was the last day of October when they saved the forty-four
G C
From those dark, icy waters by that cold Iceland shore
[Chorus]
C F D
Tell me, what were their names, tell me what were their names
G C
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James
C F D
What were their names, tell me what were their names
G C
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James?
[Verse 3]
C G C
It was there in the dark of that uncertain night
G C
That we watched for a U-boat and waited for a fight
F C
Then a whine and a rock and a great explosion roared
G C
And they laid the Reuben James on that cold ocean floor
[Chorus]
C F D
Tell me, what were their names, tell me what were their names
G C
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James
C F D
What were their names, tell me what were their names
G C
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James
[Interlude]
C F C G C
[Verse 4]
C G C
Many years have passed since those brave men are gone
G C
And those cold icy waters are still and are calm
F C
Many years have passed, but still I wonder why
G C
The worst of men must fight and the best of men must die
[Chorus]
C F D
Tell me, what were their names, tell me what were their names
G C
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James
C F D
What were their names, tell me what were their names
G C
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James
[Chorus]
C F D
What were their names, tell me what were their names
G C
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James
C F D
What were their names, tell me what were their names
G C
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James
