Reuben James
A E A
1. Have you heard of the ship called the good Reuben James?
E
A
Run by hard fighting men, both
of honor and of fame.
D
A
She flew the Stars and Stripes
of the land of the free,
E A
but tonight she's in her grave
at the bottom of the sea.
A A7 D Bm
Oh, tell me, what were their names, tell me, what were their names?
E A
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James? (2x)
A E A
2. One hundred men went down to their dark and watery graves,
E
A
when that good ship went down,
only forty-four were saved.
D
A
'Twas
the last day of October they saved forty-four
E
A
from the dark, icy water of
that cold
A E
A
3. It was there in the dark of that cold and watery night,
E
A
they watched for the U-boats
and they waited for a fight.
D
A
Then a whine and a rock and a
great explosion's roar,
E
A
they lay the Reuben James on
that cold ocean floor. + CHORUS
A E
A
4. Many years have passed since those brave men are gone,
E A
those cold, icy waters,
they're still and they're calm.
D
A
Many years have passed and
still I wonder why
E
A
the worst of men must fight
and the best of men must die!
+ CHORUS
(orig.=capo 2nd; midi=capo 1st)
(The Kingston Trio)