Ruben James*The Kingston TrioDid not chart, but they included it on their 1961 LP "Close Up"Written by Alex Harvey and Barry EtrisNOT to be confused with a totally different song with the same title by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition in 1969Have you heard of the ship called "The Good Ruben James?"Armed by hard-fighting men both of honor and of fameShe flew the Stars and Stripes of the land of the freeBut tonight she's in her grave at the bottom of the seaCHORUSOh, tell me what were their names?, tell me what were their names?Did you have a friend on The Good Ruben James?Oh, tell me what were their names?, tell me what were their names?Did you have a friend on The Good Ruben James?One hundred men went down to their dark and watery graveWhen that good ship went down, only forty-four were savedWas the last day of October, they saved forty-fourFrom the dark, icy waters of that cold Iceland shoreCHORUSIt was there in the dark of that cold and watery nightThey watched for the U-boat and they waited for a fightThen a whine and a rock and a great explosion's roarThey laid the Ruben James on the cold ocean floorCHORUSMany years have passed since those brave men are goneThose cold icy waters, they're still and they're calmMany years have passed and still I wonder whyThe worst of men must fight and the best of men must dieCHORUS*TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: This is a true story. The Ruben James (sometimes spelled "Reuben") was the first American ship lost in World War 2.
