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The Sinking Of The Reuben James

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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

The Sinking Of The Reuben James chords and lyrics

Free chords for The Sinking Of The Reuben James by Woody Guthrie. Scroll the interactive sheet above or read the chord names inline below.

Verse 1
(Chorus)
Verse 2
(Chorus)
Verse 3  
(Chorus)
Verse 4
((Chorus)

The Sinking Of The Reuben James Chords by Woody Guthrie

Learn how to play The Sinking Of The Reuben James by Woody Guthrie with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Sinking Of The Reuben James chords”, “The Sinking Of The Reuben James guitar chords”, or “Woody Guthrie The Sinking Of The Reuben James chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy The Sinking Of The Reuben James chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Sinking Of The Reuben James lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, D, C, Am.

Frequently asked questions about The Sinking Of The Reuben James

How do I play "The Sinking Of The Reuben James" by Woody Guthrie on guitar?

Open the free chords for "The Sinking Of The Reuben James" by Woody Guthrie on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "The Sinking Of The Reuben James" by Woody Guthrie free?

Yes. The chords for "The Sinking Of The Reuben James" by Woody Guthrie are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "The Sinking Of The Reuben James" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "The Sinking Of The Reuben James" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "The Sinking Of The Reuben James"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "The Sinking Of The Reuben James" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "The Sinking Of The Reuben James" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "The Sinking Of The Reuben James" by Woody Guthrie with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Woody Guthrie below.

What key is "The Sinking Of The Reuben James" in?

The chords for "The Sinking Of The Reuben James" show the original chord names (including G, D, C, Am). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.