\"The Sinking of the Reuben James\" is a song by Woody Guthrie about the sinking of the U.S. convoy escort USS Reuben James, which was the first U.S. naval ship sunk by German U-boats in World War II. Woody Guthrie had started to write a song including each name on the casualty list of the sinking. This was later replaced by the chorus \"tell me what were their names.\"

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The song is set to the melody of \"Wildwood Flower\", an antebellum tune by Joseph Philbrick Webster.\n

Recordings

The Almanac Singers on Dear Mr. President 1942
Johnny Horton on Johnny Horton Sings History 1960
Oscar Brand on Every Inch a Sailor 1960
Kingston Trio on Close-Up 1961
The Chad Mitchell Trio on Reflecting 1963
The Highwaymen on Homecoming 1963
Pete Seeger on Waist Deep in the Big Muddy and Other Love Songs 1967
Country Joe McDonald on Thinking of Woody Guthrie 1969

References

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External links

\"'The Sinking Of The Reuben James' lyrics\". Official Woody Guthrie website.

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Reuben James

Broadcast History