Woody Guthrie – The Sinking Of The Reuben James (Guitar)

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Chords

Verse 1
G       G                           D           G                                       
Have you heard of a ship called the good Reuben James

G                                   D         G                                         
Manned by hard fighting men both of honor and fame?

G                                     C            G
She flew the Stars and Stripes of this land of the free

G                                     D             G
But tonight she's in her grave on the bottom of the sea. 
(Chorus)
G                                      C                Am
Tell me what was their names, tell me what was their names,

D                             C           G     
Did you have a friend on that good Reuben James?

G                                    C          Am
What was their names, tell me, what was their names?

D                            C           G
Did you have a friend on that good Reuben James
Verse 2
G       G                             D           G
Well, a hundred men went down in that dark watery grave

G                                  D               G    
When that good ship went down only forty-four were saved.

G                                 C               G
'Twas the last day of October we saved the forty-four

G                                  D        G
From the cold ocean waters and that cold icy shore. 
(Chorus)
G                                      C                Am
Tell me what was their names, tell me what was their names,

D                             C           G     
Did you have a friend on that good Reuben James?

G                                    C          Am
What was their names, tell me, what was their names?

D                            C           G
Did you have a friend on that good Reuben James
Verse 3
G       G                        D         G
It was there in the dark of that uncertain night

G                                   D            G      
That we watched for the U-boats and waited for the fight.

G                              C                G
Then a whine and a rock and a great explosion roared

G                                      D          G
And they laid the Reuben James on that cold ocean floor. 
(Chorus)
G                                      C                Am
Tell me what was their names, tell me what was their names,

D                             C           G     
Did you have a friend on that good Reuben James?

G                                    C          Am
What was their names, tell me, what was their names?

D                            C           G
Did you have a friend on that good Reuben James
Verse 4
G       G               D                       G
Now tonight there are lights in our country so bright

G                                       D              G        
In the farms, in the cities they're telling of this fight.

G                                    C                 G
Now our mighty battleships will steam the bounding main

G                              D            G
And remember the name of that good Reuben James.
((Chorus)
G                                      C                Am
Tell me what was their names, tell me what was their names,

D                             C           G     
Did you have a friend on that good Reuben James?

G                                    C          Am
What was their names, tell me, what was their names?

D                            C           G
Did you have a friend on that good Reuben James