[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 whine and rock and great explosion roar And they laid the Reuben James on that cold ocean floor [Verse 3] One hundred men were drowned in that dark watery grave When that good ship went down only forty four were saved Twas the last day of October that we saved the forty four From the cold icy water off the cold Iceland shore. [Verse 4] Now tonight there are lights in our country so bright. In the farms and the cities they are telling of this fight. Now our mighty battleships will steam the bounding main And remember the name of the good Reuben James. [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 5] 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?