The Sinking Of Reuben James
Chad Mitchell Trio
"Singing Our Minds/Reflecting"


C G7 C
Have you heard of the ship called the good Rueben James?
G7 C
Armed by hard-fighting men both of honor and of fame.
F C
She flew the Stars And Stripes of the land of the free.
G7 C
But tonight she's in her grave at the bottom of the sea.


[Chorus:]
C F
Tell me what were their names. Tell me what were their names.
G7 C
Did you have a friend on the good Rueben James?
F
Tell me what were their names. Tell me what were their names.
G7 C
Did you have a friend on the good Rueben James?


One hundred men went down to their dark and watery grave.
When that good ship was sunk, only fourty-four were saved.
T'was the last day of October when they saved the fourty-four
From the dark, icey waters by that cold Iceland shore.

[Chorus]

It was there in the dark of that uncertain night.
That we watched o'er a U-boat, and waited for a fight.
Then the mighty ship was struck, and a great explosion roared,
And they laid the Rueben James on the cold ocean floor.

[Chorus]

[Banjo solo]

We-ll, many years have passed since those brave men are gone.
And those cold, icey waters are sti-ll 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.

[Chorus] twice to fini