Have you heard of the ship called the good rueben james?
Armed by hard-fighting men both of honor and of fame.
She flew the stars and stripes of the land of the free.
But tonight she's in her grave at the bottom of the sea.

Tell me what were their names. Tell me what were their names.
Did you have a friend on the good rueben james?
Tell me what were their names. Tell me what were their names.
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.

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.

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.