THE SINKING OF THE REUBEN JAMES 4/4

 

For video-version use Capo on 3rd fret

 

Intro: play one verse humming

 

(G)What were their names, tell me (C)what were their (Am)names,

Did (D)you have a friend on the (C)good Reuben (G)James?

 

1. Have you (G)heard of a ship called the (D)good Reuben (G)James

Manned by hard fighting men both of (D)honor and of (G)fame?

She flew the Stars and Stripes for the (C)land of the (G)free

But tonight she's in her grave at the (D)bottom of the (G)sea.

 

Chorus:

Tell me (G)what were their names, tell me (C)what were their (Am)names,

Did (D)you have a friend on the (C)good Reuben (D)James?

(G)what were their names, tell me (C)what were their (Am)names,

Did (D)you have a friend on the (C)good Reuben (G)James?

 

2. It was (G)there in the dark of that (D)uncertain (G)night

That we watched for the U-boats and (D)waited for a (G)fight.

Then a whine and a rock and a (C)great explosion (G)roared

And they laid the Reuben James on that (D)cold ocean (G)floor.

 

Chorus

 

3. One (G)hundred men were drowned in that (D)dark watery (G)grave

When that good ship went down only (D)forty-four were (G)saved.

T’was the last day of October we (C)saved the forty-(G)four

From the cold icy waters off that (D)cold Iceland (G)shore.

 

Chorus

 

4. (G)Many years have passed since those (D)brave men are (G)gone,            

And those cold icy waters now are (D)still and are (G)calm.        

Many years have passed, but (C)still I wonder (G)why      

The worst of men must fight and the (D)best of men must (G)die.

 

Chorus