G       G                           D           G                                       
Have you heard of a ship called the good Reuben James
G                                   D         G                                         
Manned by hard fighting men both of honor and fame?
G                                     C            G
She flew the Stars and Stripes of this land of the free
G                                     D             G
But tonight she's in her grave on the bottom of the sea. 

(Chorus)
G                                      C                Am
Tell me what was their names, tell me what was their names,
D                             C           G     
Did you have a friend on that good Reuben James?
G                                    C          Am
What was their names, tell me, what was their names?
D                            C           G
Did you have a friend on that good Reuben James

Verse 2
G       G                             D           G
Well, a hundred men went down in that dark watery grave
G                                  D               G    
When that good ship went down only forty-four were saved.
G                                 C               G
'Twas the last day of October we saved the forty-four
G                                  D        G
From the cold ocean waters and that cold icy shore. 


(Chorus)
G                                      C                Am
Tell me what was their names, tell me what was their names,
D                             C           G     
Did you have a friend on that good Reuben James?
G                                    C          Am
What was their names, tell me, what was their names?
D                            C           G
Did you have a friend on that good Reuben James



Verse 3  
G       G                        D         G
It was there in the dark of that uncertain night
G                                   D            G      
That we watched for the U-boats and waited for the fight.
G                              C                G
Then a whine and a rock and a great explosion roared
G                                      D          G
And they laid the Reuben James on that cold ocean floor. 

(Chorus)
G                                      C                Am
Tell me what was their names, tell me what was their names,
D                             C           G     
Did you have a friend on that good Reuben James?
G                                    C          Am
What was their names, tell me, what was their names?
D                            C           G
Did you have a friend on that good Reuben James


Verse 4
G       G               D                       G
Now tonight there are lights in our country so bright
G                                       D              G        
In the farms, in the cities they're telling of this fight.
G                                    C                 G
Now our mighty battleships will steam the bounding main
G                              D            G
And remember the name of that good Reuben James.


((Chorus)
G                                      C                Am
Tell me what was their names, tell me what was their names,
D                             C           G     
Did you have a friend on that good Reuben James?
G                                    C          Am
What was their names, tell me, what was their names?
D                            C           G
Did you have a friend on that good Reuben James