Lyrics and translation The Almanac Singers - 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 working 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?

One hundred men were drowned in that dark watery grave
When that good ship went down only 44 were saved
Was the last day of october we saved the 44
From that cold icy waters of that cold iceland 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 u-boats and waited for a fight
Then a whine and a rock, and the 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 bon Reuben James
Avec des hommes travailleurs à la fois honorables et célèbres
Il arborait les étoiles et les rayures du pays de la liberté
Mais ce soir, il repose 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 bon Reuben James ?
Quels étaient leurs noms ?
Dis-moi : quels étaient leurs noms ?
Avais-tu un ami sur le bon Reuben James ?

Cent hommes se sont noyés dans cette tombe aquatique sombre
Lorsque ce bon navire a sombré, seuls 44 ont été sauvés
C'était le dernier jour d'octobre que nous avons sauvé les 44
De ces eaux glaciales de la côte glaciale de l'Islande

Dis-moi : quels étaient leurs noms ?
Dis-moi : quels étaient leurs noms ?
Avais-tu un ami sur le bon Reuben James ?
Quels étaient leurs noms ?
Dis-moi : quels étaient leurs noms ?
Avais-tu un ami sur le bon Reuben James ?

C'était là, dans l'obscurité de cette nuit incertaine
Que nous guettions les sous-marins et attendions le combat
Puis un sifflement et un rocher, et la grande explosion a rugi
Et ils ont posé le Reuben James sur ce fond océanique froid

Dis-moi : quels étaient leurs noms ?
Dis-moi : quels étaient leurs noms ?
Avais-tu un ami sur le bon Reuben James ?
Quels étaient leurs noms ?
Dis-moi : quels étaient leurs noms ?
Avais-tu un ami sur le bon 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 traverser la mer déchaînée
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 bon Reuben James ?
Quels étaient leurs noms ?
Dis-moi : quels étaient leurs noms ?
Avais-tu un ami sur le bon Reuben James ?