Have you heard of a ship called the good Reuben James
Manned by hard fighting men both of honor and of 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
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
One hundred men went down to that dark and watery grave
When that good ship was sunk only forty four were saved
Twas the last day of October that we saved the forty four
From those dark icy waters by the cold Iceland shore
It was there in the dark of that uncertain night
That we watched for a U-boat and waited for a fight
Then a whine and a rock and a great explosion roar
And they laid the Reuben James on the cold ocean floor
Well, many years have passed since those brave men are gone
And those cold icy waters are still and they're calm
Many years have passed but still I wonder why
The worst of men must fight and the best of men must die