John & James
Skatalites and Friends Lyrics
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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?
Well, a hundred men went down in that dark watery grave
When that good ship went down only forty-four were saved.
'Twas the last day of October we saved the forty-four
From the cold ocean waters and the cold icy shore.
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 a great explosion roared
And they laid the Reuben James on that cold ocean floor.
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.
The song "John & James" by Skatalites and Friends tells the story of the sinking of the American ship, the Reuben James, during World War II. The ship was manned by brave soldiers who fought with honor, but unfortunately, the ship met its fate at the bottom of the sea. The song mourns the loss of the ship and its crew and wonders about the identities of the brave men who lost their lives in the incident. The song goes on to describe how the forty-four men who survived were rescued from the icy waters and how the incident is now being remembered across America.
The lyrics convey a deep sense of sadness and loss, as the ship represented American freedom and the brave soldiers who fought to defend it. The song is a tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives during the incident and is a strong reminder of the tragedies of war. The lyrics also highlight the bravery and courage of the soldiers who fought to defend their country and the sacrifices they made in the process.
The song has a powerful emotional impact that resonates with listeners, even those who may not have a direct connection to the incident. It is a reminder that war has a human cost and that those who fight in wars are real people with real lives, families, and friends.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you heard of a ship called the good Reuben James
Have you ever been told about the US Navy ship known as the good Reuben James?
Manned by hard fighting men both of honor and fame?
Crewed by brave and world-renowned warriors?
She flew the Stars and Stripes of the land of the free
This ship proudly bore the flag of the United States of America.
But tonight she's in her grave at the bottom of the sea.
Sadly, as of now, it now lies at the bottom of the ocean floor.
Tell me what were their names, tell me what were their names,
Can you please inform me the names of those lost warriors?
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James?
Did you, perhaps, personally know any of those great men on said ship?
Well, a hundred men went down in that dark watery grave
One hundred souls tragically perished on the sinking ship.
When that good ship went down only forty-four were saved.
A mere forty-four brave souls were rescued from that sinking vessel.
'Twas the last day of October we saved the forty-four
It was on the 31st of October that we rescued those forty-four survivors.
From the cold ocean waters and the cold icy shore.
These rescued souls were taken from the frigid waters and the equally-chilly shores nearby.
It was there in the dark of that uncertain night
It was at that moment during the dark and ominous night.
That we watched for the U-boats and waited for a fight.
When U-boats were surveilled and our team waited for the battle to commence.
Then a whine and a rock and a great explosion roared
Suddenly, there was a foreboding hum, a jolt, and a tremendous detonation sound.
And they laid the Reuben James on that cold ocean floor.
It was at that moment the ship met its end on the ocean bed.
Now tonight there are lights in our country so bright
At present, there are countless glittering lights located in our great nation.
In the farms and in the cities they're telling of the fight.
These lights are situated in both urban and rural areas, all of which commemorate and honor the battle.
And now our mighty battleships will steam the bounding main
Our powerful naval ships will purposefully sail the vast seas.
And remember the name of that good Reuben James.
In their minds, they will forever hold dear the name of the brave ship, Reuben James.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: WOODY GUTHRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind