Ruben James*

The Kingston Trio



Did not chart, but they included it on their 1961 LP "Close Up"

Written by Alex Harvey and Barry Etris

NOT to be confused with a totally different song with the same title by Kenny

Rogers and the First Edition in 1969





Have you heard of the ship called "The Good Ruben 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





CHORUS

Oh, 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 grave

When that good ship went down, only forty-four were saved

Was the last day of October, they saved forty-four

From the dark, icy waters of that cold Iceland shore



CHORUS



It was there in the dark of that cold and watery night

They watched for the U-boat and they waited for a fight

Then a whine and a rock and a great explosion's roar

They laid the Ruben James on the cold ocean floor



CHORUS



Many years have passed since those brave men are gone

Those cold icy waters, they're still and they're calm

Many years have passed and still I wonder why

The worst of men must fight and the best of men must die



CHORUS



*TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: This is a true story. The Ruben James (sometimes

spelled "Reuben") was the first American ship lost in World War 2