Lyrics and translation Pete Seeger - The Sinking of the Reuben James

The Sinking of the Reuben James

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 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?
It was there in the dark of that uncertain night
That we watched for the U-boats and waited for the 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?

Le naufrage du Reuben James

As-tu entendu parler d'un navire appelé le brave Reuben James
Doté d'hommes combattants à la fois d'honneur et de gloire ?
Il arborait l'étoile et les rayures du pays des libres
Mais ce soir, il est dans sa tombe au fond de la mer
Dis-moi, quels étaient leurs noms, dis-moi, quels étaient leurs noms ?
Avais-tu un ami sur le brave Reuben James ?
Quels étaient leurs noms, dis-moi, quels étaient leurs noms ?
Avais-tu un ami sur le brave Reuben James ?
C'était là dans l'obscurité de cette nuit incertaine
Que nous guettions les sous-marins et attendions le combat
Puis un gémissement, un rocher et une grande explosion retentirent
Et ils déposèrent le Reuben James sur ce froid plancher océanique
Dis-moi, quels étaient leurs noms, dis-moi, quels étaient leurs noms ?
Avais-tu un ami sur le brave Reuben James ?
Quels étaient leurs noms, dis-moi, quels étaient leurs noms ?
Avais-tu un ami sur le brave Reuben James ?
Maintenant, ce soir, il y a des lumières dans notre pays si brillantes
Dans les fermes et dans les villes, ils racontent le combat
Et maintenant nos puissants cuirassés vont sillonner la haute mer
Et se souviendront du nom de ce bon Reuben James
Dis-moi, quels étaient leurs noms, dis-moi, quels étaient leurs noms ?
Avais-tu un ami sur le brave Reuben James ?
Quels étaient leurs noms, dis-moi, quels étaient leurs noms ?
Avais-tu un ami sur le brave Reuben James ?