The Sinking of the Reuben James

[Intro]
On October 31, 1941 the United States destroyer Reuben James sailing in the waters west of Iceland was attacked, torpedoed and sunk without warning
Ninety-five lives were lost in this the first U.S. warship to go down in the Second World War

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

[Verse 1]
Have you heard of a ship callеd the good Reuben Jamеs
Manned by hard fighting men both of honor and of fame?
She flew the Stars and Stripes for the Land of the Free
But tonight she's in her grave at the bottom of the sea

[Chorus]
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?

[Verse 2]
It was there in the dark of that uncertain night
That we watched for the U-boats and waited for the fight
Then a whine and a rock and a great explosion roar
And they laid the Reuben James on that cold ocean floor

[Chorus]
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?

[Verse 3]
Many years have passed since these brave men are gone
Those cold icy waters now are still and are gone
Many years have passed but still I wonder why
The worst of men must fight, and the best of men must die

[Chorus]
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?