The Sinking Of The Reuben James

Album: The Asch Recordings (1944)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The USS Reuben James was a battleship that was torpedoed by a German submarine on Halloween of 1941, becoming the first US ship sunk in World War II.
  • Woody Guthrie was staying at the Almanac House in Greenwich Village when he wrote this song. He recorded it with Pete Seeger, who was also staying there along with a few other folk musicians who often played to small crowds in the basement of the house.
  • The melody was derived from the song "Wildwood Flower," which was made famous by The Carter Family in 1928 but dates back to 1860 from "I'll Twine 'Mid The Ringlets" composed by Joseph Philbrick Webster. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Jack - Trasheing, MO, for all above

Comments: 2

  • Alan Dixler from New JerseyFYI, the USS Reuben James was a destroyer, not a battleship.
  • Joe from Preston, CtThe Reuben James was a destroyer not a battleship.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

George Clinton

George ClintonSongwriter Interviews

When you free your mind, your ass may follow, but you have to make sure someone else doesn't program it while it's wide open.

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

Colin Hay

Colin HaySongwriter Interviews

Established as a redoubtable singer-songwriter, the Men At Work frontman explains how religion, sobriety and Jack Nicholson play into his songwriting.

Michael Sweet of Stryper

Michael Sweet of StryperSongwriter Interviews

Find out how God and glam metal go together from the Stryper frontman.

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"They're Playing My Song

Gramm co-wrote this gorgeous ballad and delivered an inspired vocal, but the song was the beginning of the end of his time with Foreigner.

Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds

Jim McCarty of The YardbirdsSongwriter Interviews

The Yardbirds drummer explains how they created their sound and talks about working with their famous guitarists.