Sinking of the Reuben James
Woody Guthrie
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Have you heard of a ship called the good Reuben James Manned by hard fighting men both of honor and fame? She flew the Stars and Stripes of the land of the free But tonight she's in her grave on 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 Well, a hundred men went down in that dark watery grave When that good ship went down only forty-four were saved That was the last day of October we saved the forty-four From the cold ocean waters and the cold icy shore 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 It was there in the dark of that uncertain night That we watched for the you-boats and waited for a fight Then a whine and a rock and a great explosion roared And they laid the Reuben James on that cold ocean floor 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 Now tonight there are lights in our country so bright In the farms and in the cities they're telling of the fight And now our mighty battleships will steam the bounding main And remember the name of that good Reuben James 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
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Written by: WOODY GUTHRIE
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
11 facts about this song
Artist Background"Sinking of the Reuben James" is a song by American folk musician Woody Guthrie. He was known for his protest songs, addressing political as well as social issues.
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Musical StyleThe song is considered an important part of the American folk music tradition and is characterized by Guthrie's simple yet powerful storytelling technique.
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Historical EventThe song is based on a real historical event, the sinking of the American destroyer USS Reuben James by a German submarine on October 31, 1941, during World War II.
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Anti-War MessageThough it describes a military incident, the song has a clear anti-war message. It asks the question, "what were their names," calling attention to the loss of human life during war.
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Impact of the EventThe sinking of USS Reuben James was a significant event at the time because it occurred before the United States officially entered World War II.
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Release DateThe song was first released in 1942, shortly after the incident it describes. It has been covered and reinterpreted by numerous artists ever since.
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Album AppearanceThe song appears on Woody Guthrie's album "Ballads of Sacco & Vanzetti," released in 1960, comprised of songs Guthrie wrote on commission from the American government.
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Popular CultureThe song has been used in various movies and documentaries focusing on World War II and the anti-war movement of the 1960s, testifying to its lasting relevance.
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CollaborationsGuthrie often worked with musician Pete Seeger, who was also well-known for his folk music and his social activism. They performed "Sinking of the Reuben James" together on several occasions.
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Activist ContentMuch like his other works, "Sinking of the Reuben James" reflects Guthrie's leftist political values and his unflinching commitment to criticizing societal inequality, war, and social injustice.
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InfluenceGuthrie's work, including "Sinking of the Reuben James," heavily influenced a generation of folk singers, including Bob Dylan and Joan Baez.
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Citation
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"Sinking of the Reuben James Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 20 Sep. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/9839235/Woody+Guthrie/Sinking+of+the+Reuben+James>.
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