(V1)
D                                   A7          D
Have you heard of a ship called the Good Rueben James?,
D                                    A7        D
manned by hard fightin' men, both of honor an' fame
D                         D7               G           D
well she flew the stars 'n stripes of this land of the free
D                                 A7            D
tonight she's in her grave at the bottom of the sea

(Chorus)
(x2)
D                                      G
Tell me what were their names, tell me what were their names
A7                            D                
Did you have a friend on that good Rueben James?

(V2)
Now a hundred men went down in that dark watery grave
When that good ship was found only 44 were saved
It was the last day of October when we saved the 44
from them cold ocean waters an' that cold icy shore

(chorus)

(V3)
It was there in the dark of that uncertain night
that we watched for them U-boats 'n waited for that fight
Then a whine an' a rock and a great explosion roar'd
An' laid that Rubeun James on the cold Ocean floor

(chorus)

(V4)
Now tonight there are lights in our country so bright
on the farms 'n the cities, man they're teachin' of that fight
And now our mighty battleships will sail the moundin' bane
Rememberin' the men of that Good Rueben James

(Repeat Chorus)