Chad Mitchell Trio - The Sinking Of The Reuben James lyrics

Have you heard of a ship called the good Reuben James Manned 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 Reuben James What were their names, tell me what were their names Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James One hundred men went down to that dark and watery grave When that good ship was sunk only forty four were saved Twas the last day of October that we saved the forty four From those dark icy waters by the cold Iceland shore It was there in the dark of that uncertain night That we watched for a U-boat and waited for a fight Then a whine and a rock and a great explosion roar And they laid the Reuben James on the cold ocean floor Well, many years have pa**ed since those brave men are gone And those cold icy waters are still and they're calm Many years have pa**ed but still I wonder why The worst of men must fight and the best of men must die