Lyrics Beneath the Southern Cross - Richard Rodgers

Beneath the Southern Cross

On Oct. 31st 1941 the United States destroyer Reuben James,
sailing in the waters west of Iceland,
was attacked torpedoed and sunk without warning.
95 lives were lost in this 1st U.S. warship to go down in the 2nd World War.
What were their names tell me what were their names?
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James?
Have you heard of a ship called the good Reuben James?
Manned by hard fighting men both of honor and of fame.
She flew the Stars and Stripes for 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’s roar.
And they lay 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?
Many years have passed since these brave men are gone.
Those cold icy waters now are still and are gone.
Many years have passed but still I wonder why
the worst of men must fight and the best of men must die!
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?