Reuben James by The Kingston Trio
Reuben James by The Kingston Trio

Reuben James

The Kingston Trio * Track #12 On Close-Up

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Reuben James by The Kingston Trio

Release Date
Sun Oct 01 1961
Performed by
The Kingston Trio
Produced by
Voyle Gilmore
Writed by
Woody Guthrie & Joseph P. Webster
About

“Reuben James” was written by Woody Guthrie, Fred Hellerman and Joseph Webster in 1941 and appears on the Kingston Trio album, Close-Up (1961).

This is a story song about the U.S.S. Reuben James, the first U.S. warship lost in WW2.

In March 1941, the Reuben James joined a convoy headed for Great B...

Read more ⇣

Reuben James Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Have you heard of the ship called the good Reuben James?
Run 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

[Chorus]
Oh, tell me, what were their names?
Tell me, what were their names?
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James?
Won't you tell me, what were their names?
Tell me, what were their names?
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James?

[Verse 2]
One hundred men went down to their dark and watery graves
When that good ship went down, only forty-four were saved
'Twas the last day of October, they saved the forty-four
From the dark icy waters of that cold Iceland shore

[Chorus]
Oh, tell me, what were their names?
Tell me, what were their names?
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James?
Won't you tell me, what were their names?
Tell me, what were their names?
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James?

[Verse 3]
It was there in the dark of that cold and watery night
They watched for the U-boats and they waited for a fight
Then a whine and a rock and a great explosion's roar
They lay the Reuben James on that cold ocean floor

[Chorus]
Oh, tell me, what were their names?
Tell me, what were their names?
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James?
Won't you tell me, what were their names?
Tell me, what were their names?
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James?

[Instrumental]

[Verse 4]
Many years have passed since those brave men are gone
Those cold, icy waters, they're still and they're calm
Many years have passed and still I wonder why
The worst of men must fight and the best of men must die

[Chorus]
Oh, tell me, what were their names?
Tell me, what were their names?
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James?
Tell me, tell me, tell me, what were their names?
Tell me, what were their names?
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James?

Reuben James Q&A

Who wrote Reuben James's ?

Reuben James was written by Woody Guthrie & Joseph P. Webster.

Who produced Reuben James's ?

Reuben James was produced by Voyle Gilmore.

When did The Kingston Trio release Reuben James?

The Kingston Trio released Reuben James on Sun Oct 01 1961.

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