"The Sinking of the Reuben James" by The Kingston Trio

[SBRS33]

My grandfather was assigned to this ship but he slept in.

[WALTERBROADDUS]

FFG 57 is in service to day as the USS Ruben James.

[gerard55ish]

We know of the Reuben James here on the other side of the world. My children sang in memory of the USS Reuben James at a school concert about 17 years ago at Kurow High School, North Otago, New Zealand. I have served in the Royal Navy and have an interest in naval history and warships.

[LagunaWSU2]

Thank you for telling the names.

[BigSkyShooter]

This has always been one of my favorite Kingston Trio songs. Thanks for posting it.

[EternaSkies]

Thank you. Decades I wondered



[antifreetrader]

Yea we need to control the seas alright as our military is tax paid pinkertons for the banks and corperations that have all the assets and jobs in 3rd world slave havens,,everyone here wants cheap crap and the enviroment trashed somewhere else,,no epa,,human rights and if the natives rebel call them insurgents and get the neotards to call it a just war!! Screw china,isreal,mexico,,,bring our boys here, make it here pay a living wage and protect our borders,,,RON PAUL 2012

[drakesucks]

@antifreetrader ron paul is an inbred hick who would bring us back to pre-ww2 isolationism which damn near destroyed us Barack Obama 2012

[antifreetrader]

@drakesucks This is not a political presidential forum,,i withdraw my Ron Paul comment but i totaly do not agree with you....isolationism when you consume 21% of the worlds goods means at 8% of the worlds population you are a economy till our free traders send all our jobs to china and mexico and allow tax loop holes for such eco terrorrist corperations, next why be the world cop and let other countries use resources to build infustructure that we waste on military crap to defend them?

[UncleMikeNJ]

October 31, 1941 -- a date which should live in infamy. Why didn't FDR ask for a declaration of war then? It might have been his biggest mistake, for if he had, he would have been justified, he probably would have gotten it, and certainly Pearl Harbor would have been more ready for an attack... the war could have ended sooner.

[tlee51ftw]

@UncleMikeNJ That era's Ron Paul, Republican senator Robert Taft would not have allowed a DOW at that time. What would have happened is the rather borderline aid we were sending Europe would have been stopped.

[bescalanteaz]

@ tiee51ftw, I suggest you read about the man Ruben James and the reason the US Navy was founded. Terrorists have replaced the Barbary pirates but the underlying theology has escalated attacks on our country. And as for the ship, we were not even in the war when it was sunk by German subs, nor did we enter the war until Japan attacked us. And before military benefits should be cut, how about cutting congressional benefits? Read a history book.

[tlee51ftw]

@bescalanteaz I'm pretty well versed on history, and my comment about benefits was to show that some military supporters will not cut a bloated military budget but are willing to cut benefits to the poor, the sick, the hungry, the homeless but not their benefits. It is hypocritical and the military budget is way too big. There can be many cuts without damage to national security. Republican Eisenhower warned of the "military-industrial complex" and we apparently didn't listen.

[tlee51ftw]

We spend about 26% of our annual budget on the military. That is way too much. By some accounts, more than the next 26 countries combined. While I don't subscribe to the Tea Party pull back to our borders, we do not need all the worldwide bases we have and we do not need every new technological gadget that comes along. There is plenty of money that can be cut from the military budget and must be cut. And for you military people that are so up in arms over it, your benefits are the option.

[drakesucks]

@tlee51ftw we need the new technology because it going to be real fun using bullets against directed energy weapons

[tlee51ftw]

@drakesucks I did not say all technology, but even the pentagon has cut a few contracts as unneeded. We spend way to much on the military.

[LagunaWSU2]

Many years have passed, and still I wonder why...

The worst of men must fight, and the best of men must die.

[tlee51ftw]

@LagunaWSU2 The best line in the whole song.

[foucault1020]

Thank you. The 100 names for decades- I wondered what were there names. The surviver's stories give a few. This makes the song complete for me.

[foucault1020]

This is a wonderful upload. This is the best version- c/ their names. Decades I never had the list of 100. Thanks.

[pt45g46]

The allied navies -- U.S., British, Canadian -- sank more than 750 Nazi U-boats between 1939 and 1945. However, during the 3.5 years of WW2 in the Pacific, the Imperial Japanese Navy sank fewer than 50 U.S. submarines, because our subs had charts which showed the ocean currents which had vastly different temperatures which are known as thermoclines. Thermoclines reflect sonar pings which meant the I.J.N. rarely could find our subs after they fired their torpedoes into jap ships.

[foucault1020]

@pt45g46 Thanks for the thermocline info. History seems to emphasise Purple & Magic. Code breaking would be as reliable as a rubber crutch if I'm having Japs drop depth charges on me.Using thermoclines as primitive stealth- what a concept! I never knew. Very interesting.

[FatToad12]

@pt45g46 I think it was less "we had thermocline charts" and more that the Japanese totally failed to anticipate the need to protect their shipping lines. They concluded that merchantmen weren't worth torpedoes - possibly an artifact of samurai thinking; fighting peasants being beneath their warrior dignity - and expected us to do the same.

[FatToad12]

@pt45g46 Accordingly, they utterly failed to prepare for strategic submarine warfare. Their subchasers were bad. Their crews were worse. Their equipment was terrible, and they never had enough of any of 'em. It goes far beyond who knew where the hot water was and who didn't.

[alderbaran1]

Nice memorial. Btw, Woodie Guthrie and Cisco Houston entertained the crew of their Merchant Marine vessel by singing this song while cruising through U-boat-infested waters in the North Atlantic.

[foucault1020]

Thank you on deaf ears. Poignant. I always wondered what were their names.

[daylightlover]

thank you very much

[DeeAndDee]

Thank you for giving us their names. Knowing a survivor of Pearl Harbor, those on the ships and boats who went down have always felt like family.

[Thorwald88]

Somehow many of the Kingston Trio songs that I enjoyed so much in college haven't retained the appeal for me they once had. This song is on glaring exception to that generalization.

[IntuitiveJules]

I thank you for taking time to put this together. My grandfather was the radio officer Paul L. Magaris who perished. So much information and telegrams my mother kept in her scrapbook.. She was only 10 when he went down on the Reuben James. I have some twists and turn story about how my grandfather ended up on the Reuben James. 1) he changed commissions with a fellow naval radio officer that had a family emergency 2) the comission he traded with this officer was the USS Arizona. "Fate"

[galoon]

@IntuitiveJules Wow...that's Fate indeed. He was transferred from one doomed warship to another. USS Reuben James is one of the unsung (no pun intended) casualties--lost in an undeclared war with Germany.

[Truelove9307]

you forgot Moe, Larry and Curley

[jjj1951]

@Truelove9307 Get Bent!

[gbuscg]

Reuben James was part of the boarding party that snuck into the Tripoli Harbor to burn the U.S.S. philedelphia which had been captured by the barbary pirates in 1804 after she ran aground.Jame s was wounded in the hand to hand combat ,he saved LT.Dacatur by thowingself between a sword swing and the lt. he lived

[BannerBombers]

@gbuscg Thank you for that information. James certainly deserved to be memoralized for his bravery.

[7levelGI]

The M S Phoenix now rests at the bottom of the sea. I was on it shortly she went down. Gives me the willies

[SmokeBojangles]

Kraut U-Boat snuck up on them as they were hunting it.Learned many a hard lesson,but guess how many we sunk?

[daisytrench]

Thank you for memorializing these men. "Many years have passed and still I wonder why the worst of men must fight and the best of men must die." May they, and all who fought in service of their country, rest in peace.

[mikewarns]

Thank you.

[40warhawkp]

Who was Reuben James? Is he the one who invented the reuben sandwich?

[hamsackbag]

thank you for this upload, your care in remembering the names of the sailors, and for your effort in the description.

[funbrewflier]

Keever, Leonard A., Chief Machinist Mate, my uncle - - - - R IP

[WALTERBROADDUS]

May their service never be forgotten.

[billdadd]

The US navy soon found out about threat of the U-boat. The Royal Navy had been fighting them for two years before Uncle Sam decided they wanted to be on the winning side!

[ACDCFan96100]

this is the best version of this song

[seohayami1]

I've listened to this song sung by various singers and groups, but Kingston version is the very best, I say.

[Bluecho4]

One poor person accidentally hit the wrong thumb button.

[phyliscd]

i have just seen on the military channel about the war in the atlantic and about the u boats and the u-123 sunk the reuben james and g-d rest their souls .a navy veteran of the vietnam war.

[cloughertyt]

God Bless all Sailors, Soldiers, Marines, etc.- the men and women who fight to keep the whole world safe. They are all truly remarkable people.

[MaulawiUdo]

Tune original title "I'll Twine 'mid the Ringlets" (1860) commonly known as "The Wildwood Flower" composer Joseph Philbrick Webster (1819-1875). These lyrics date from 1942 and are by Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie (1912-1947), a stinking commie and anarchist who had no business defiling the memory of brave American men.

[MaulawiUdo]

@MaulawiUdo Make that "fucking commie coward whose only purpose was to further the goals of the Internationale."

[WDIAWLOK]

@MaulawiUdo What are you talking about?



[BenAliGtor]

@MaulawiUdo Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger (as well as Gus Hall, head of the Communist Party USA) all served in the US military during World War II. Did you? If not, your hurling of the "stinking commie" brickbat is pretty infantile.

[gamingdiplomacy]

@BenAliGtor iirc, Guthrie was rabidly anti-war until Hitler declared war on the Soviet Union. One could make the argument that he joined up only because the US was allied with the Soviet Union.

[BenAliGtor]

@gamingdiplomacy True enough, but if you employ that argument, wouldn't it make pro-Soviet Americans MORE patriotic than Lindberg and his "America First" crowd because they supported an effort against Hitler from the summer of 1941 when the Soviet Union was invaded, as opposed to isolationists who only supported such an effort after Germany's formal declaration of war on December 9, 1941?

[gamingdiplomacy]

@BenAliGtor

depends on your definition of patriotism and the values of america.

Lindbergh and his "America First" crowd also were pretty unpatriotic by supporting Nazi Germany, an enemy of the US

Both parties supported enemies of the US, and are both equally unpatriotic in my eyes.

That's just my opinion though

[guitarbo1]

That last verse by Nick always gets me: "many years have passed and still I wonder why..the worst of men must fight, and the best of men must die!"

[KENZOWAL]

This is an absolutely magnificnet song. It makes me feel so proud of my country.

[KENZOWAL]

If I ran the Navy, I would make this tune our theme song. What an awesome, inspiring song it is!

[cherokeetrace]

@KENZOWAL Agree with both your comments. I wonder how many Sailors know the story of Reuben James either the ship or the man?

Knowing ones history, traditions instills comradeship, that's something that the U.S.Marines know and something some in the U.S Navy have forgotten, wanting to replace it with PC platitudes. I speak as a very proud 20 year U.S. Navy Vet. To those serving who hold to tradition and pride, my most profound pardon. Fair Winds.

[shannon3569]

Fantastic presentation, and may following winds be always with them

[MrBritainrules]

im sorry but they say that this ship wos sunk by a U boat but isnt that the point of a u boat

[justasinger54]

I did this song in a college history class two years ago, to prove a point, some 20 something made the statement that we attacked a soveriegn Germany after Pearl Harbor, I can't believe Roosevelt let it go a full 5 weeks before the war, anyway, i proved my point with the 20 something and all the class loved it, it beat the hell out of the lecture that day....keep on...justasinger54

[WaywardWind1]

I'v been listening to the Kingston Trio version and Johnny Horton's back to back. Both are wonderful. There is enough difference to really appreciate each of them. i'm guessing the main reason I prefer Horton's is that is the one I heard and learned to love first. It was a wonderful treat to hear Johnny Horton sing it again. I am very grateful.

[WaywardWind1]

Thank you! I'll do something nice for you sometime. Uhhhh, I'll probably pick the time.

[WaywardWind1]

That would be wonderful! I have the song on LP along with other Johnny Horton songs that ARE on YouTube. Please understand that I love the Kingston Trio song, but I just prefer Horton. He was one of the greats and died so young.

[oldieschick16]

I understand. I prefer the Johnny Horton version as well. i am uploading the song right now :-)

[WaywardWind1]

This is a wonderful song and I am a huge fan of the Kingston Trio. However, Johnny Horton had a better version. Sadly, I have not seen it on YouTube.

[oldieschick16]

I have the song by johnny horton. I will post it on youtube if u like :-)

[KENZOWAL]

The real guy, Reuben James, was an 18th century sailor who saved his captain, Steven Decatur, from certain death at the hands of enemy Pirates, in naval hand-to-hand combat. His name is now proudly carried by the US Navy Frigate (FFG 57), which fictionally appeared in Tom Clancy's first novel, The Hunt for Red October. Other than the carrier Enterprise, this vessel carries the spirit of our navy and is more well renowned than any other.

[seanboud]

@KENZOWAL FFG57 carries her motto well: "Back with a Vengeance"

[fairportfan2]

I had a friend on the "Reuben James".

Every man or woman who's ever served in any Navy had a friend on the "Reuben James".

Nicholas Monsarratt prefaces his novel of WW2 at sea "...the men are the heroes; the ships are the heroines, and the only enemy is the cruel sea itself..."

I believe that the chorus was Fred Hellerman, who also composed the last verse. Woody originally listed all the names and didn't have an actual chorus, Hellerman suggested changing that to the existing chorus.

[thespawnof66]

I've always loved this song, especially that last verse. It's a wonderful tribute to a good ship and a fine crew.

[capt777737]

@EagleScoutmano

I'd definately go along with that.

Guaranteed we need twice or 3 times the number of US Navy ships we have now

Especially if we nuke N. Korea, as the US Military has said they would do, as of today.

[Eekolu]

America is, in the eyes of the Irish, the best country EVER. This song just prooves how much we love you guys.

[VictrolaJazz]

This really takes me back! My suite-mates in Tyler Jr. College in 1962-63 had every KT album and they played this over and over--I've liked it ever since!

[BuffaloBob49]

I have a son-in-law who is a Navy man, submariner...no mind....BLESS EVERY MILITARY SERVICE MAN (WOMAN)...then, now and especially in the future........R.W. Bowers

[Rodney5516]

A Great Song to our Fighting men from the past !

[capt777737]

I just sent this to the USS Reuben James FFG-57 website and asked them to add it to their site.

[capt777737]

KT has made this song into a rousing anthem, and rightfully so. It should be sung loudly by every patriot. It is so powerful.

Now that we have a new and updated USS Reuben James, she's back and with a vengeance and kicking ass.

Now if we could lay a new keel down and build another US Navy cruiser we should name it USS Indianapolis

[EagleScoutmano]

@capt777737 why not name it the USS Arizona?

[snakes3425]

The U-Boat that sank her, U-552, had a reputation of brutallity, being nicknamed the Red Devil, and after sinking the James she massacured the crew of the frieghter SS David H. Atwater

[capt777737]

Snake3425 I thank you for your support

I know nothing of the crew of the frieghter SS David H. Atwater. Can you tell us details

Can you help me write the Sinking of USS Indianapolis in to song.

You know my cousin went down the ship.

The biggest disaster of the US Navy.

Shit you not

I love our wonderful US Navy and forever will.

I sent this video and the Weavers vid to the commander of the USS Bainbridge, who rescued my captain of the Mearsk Alabama from the priates who would have shot him dead

[snakes3425]

The Atwater was an unarmed coastal freighter that was enrute to Fall River with a cargo of coal, at the height of Operation: Paukenschlag/Drumbeat. Her captain had disregarded his orders when he set allowing U-552 to ambush her after following her underwater, attacking her with her deck gun, machine guns and possibly her 20mm AA Gun. The U-Boat's captain ordered the attack to continue even as the crew was boarding lifeboats and it was clear the ship was sinking, in the end only 3 men survived

[capt777737]

Snake,

I sent this Vid to Gov. Mike Huckabee and Joey Salvia of the Little Rockers (Huckabee's band) and asked them to help me write a song in 4/4 time of "The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis" Where 881 sailors died when the Japs sank the destroyerJuly 30, 1945

I asked them to help me write a song in 4/4 time of the Indy Disaster.

Jim Moran of "Chilly Winds is fully on board and wants to her the song, when it's wrote.

HELP

[snakes3425]

@capt777737

I'm actually not very good at writing songs, the best I can do is research the Indianapolis Disaster and piece together the major events of her career and the events leading up to and following her loss

[capt777737]

Snake,

All we need is the events leading of the events, and the actual disaster, plus the death of Captain Charles McVey, as full and concise as we can make this into a song. I know a couple sources I might be able to help from in doing this project, and it be from the middle school and high school choirs. I know both directors, one a very long time friend. This is a memory.

Jim Moran of Chilly Winds e-mailed me 2 days ago, and he wants to here the song. We will invite them to come and play

[snakes3425]

I sent you some info about what caused the high death toll and Capt. McVey's Courtmashal and suicide

[snakes3425]

I sent you a timeline of Indianapolis's history from 1932-2000, if it's too much I apologize, I've got a reputation for being thurough when it comes to the research I do.

[kardav4ever]

sorry-havent had time to read up lately-could you please refresh my memory

[capt777737]

@snakes3425

Snake i been trying to send you the latest USS Reuben James site, for the last 4 hours but hotmail and youtube fucks it up, as normal.

I hope it works here

I need your e-mail addy to send the site if it don't show here, and others. I'll add you as a friend in the next couple days if time permits.

PHIL

[kardav4ever]

Merry Christmas

[capt777737]

Same here: MERRY CHRISTMAS

[kardav4ever]

I just think we should remember ALL the brave people that died or survived the fight for our country.

[capt777737]

My cousin went down with the USS Indianapolis CA-45

NEVER FORGET THE RUBEN OR THE INDY.

GOD BLESS OUR WONDERFUL US NAVY AND THE US MARINES. WE ARE ALL ONE.

[capt777737]

Correction: USS Indianapolis CA-35

I sent this to the commander of the USS Bainbridge as they rescued my captain

Richard Phillips of the Maersk Alabama

I guarded these ships in Port of Seattle, and Maersk in port.

So Capt. Phillips was MY captain cause I took care of him, his crew and ship.

I'd do it again.

The Commander of the USS Bainbridge and the US Navy Seal Commander invoked

"Operational Authority" to rescue Capt. Phillips.

U.S. Navy acted on their own, with no help from Washington DC.

[frankydman]

RIP DD-245!

[oldieschick16]

i like the johnny horton version best :-)

[dustrabbit]

Love the song and your video. Thanks.

[zitlight73]

"The worst of men must fight and the best of men must die." No truer words were ever sang.

[Davotheledge]

LOVE this song! Makes me feel good.

[capt777737]

I dismarked this as spam.

I agree it don't make us feel good, but these disasters are best put to song like this one is.

Only way some of us can get thru the memories.

I'm trying to get somebody to help me write one to the Sinking of the USS Indianapolis done to 4/4 time like this one is.

[fanchbrezoneg]

Le 31 Octobre 1941 le USS Rubens James escorte un convoi vers l'Angleterre; les USA ne sont pas encore en guerre, et pourtant furieux de ne pouvoir couler les navires marchands, un commandant de U/Boote n'hésite pas à le tirer comme à la parade, avec un autre bateau coulé le même jour, le vieux destroyer Ruben James est le premier navire de combat américain attaqué de toute la seconde guerre mondiale, Musique A P carter Lyrics Woody Guthrie.

[PicassoPete]

Thank you for remembering them

Regards Peter A

[electricslipper]

Fine work...Remember the Ruben James.

[cherokeetrace]

I suggest anyone who thinks Sailors are cowards or has it easy has never served at sea or in the Navy. A person that leaves the soft life of a civilian to serve in any branch of our Armed Forces is deserving of respect.

Samuel Johnson said it best "Every man thinks meanly of himself for never having been a Soldier or never having been at sea, The profession of Soldiers and Sailors has the dignity of danger and mankind reveres those who have gotten over fear which is so general a weakness."

[KENZOWAL]

@cherokeetrace They were hard fighting men. Period. The real Reuben James exemplified this character trait. This song, and especially The Kingston Trio's version, gets my vote for the best American patriotic song ever.

[USMarineRifleman0311]

@cherokeetrace

the existance of this country rests upon our ability to control the seas now more than ever before 1700s.

The only thing that stands in the way of the chinese being able to protect their own oil shipping lines is a good navy which they dont have at the moment.

I cant understand why anyone whould even think of slandering the navy.

Unless the army wants to march across the Bering strait to fight the chinese....they aint no good

[cherokeetrace]

@USMarineRifleman0311 Yer right on the mark Marine. Unfortunately the U.S. Navy is being downsized while the ChiComs are developing the first blue water navy in their history in order to control the South China Sea and to threaten Taiwan. We've returned to the 70s when the Soviets practically owned the oceans, that is until Reagan came to office and restored our Navy and it's spirit.

[USMarineRifleman0311]

@cherokeetrace

the existance of this country rests upon our ability to control the seas now more than ever before 1700s.

The only thing that stands in the way of the chinese being able to protect their own oil shipping lines is a good navy which they dont have at the moment.

I cant understand why anyone whould even think of slandering the navy.

Unless the army wants to march across the Bering strait to fight the chinese....they aint no good

[chengloki]

when you think of a sailor, be honest, you think of a geek or a nerd. They can't be as brave as the Army or Marines. But, when a ship goes down, most of the crew goes with it. The land forces can bring theirs home. We can't!!! Mama Ocean claims her own. Tell me about bravery!! =Stefan=

[1011mn]

I strongly suggest going on-line to read the story of the real sailor Reuben James and why he deserved to have a ship (actually, more than one) named after him. Now days the word 'hero' is used at the drop of a hat. Go read about a real hero.

[Davotheledge]

Oh great stuff, I can't get enough of this song atm. I love that yesteryear-sound. It's just magic.

[1011mn]

A very fine job with your comments. I kept thinking, "I know this tune from somewhere", and you provided the answer to that.

[twinclarinets]

On this Memorial Day 2009, I would like to thank you for this outstanding video, and my most favorite Kingston Trio song (written by Woodie Guthrie). A superb commemoration and tribute. The information you provided is most appreciated too.

[limegreenicebox]

Very good video teamed with the incredible Kingston Trio.....an awesome tribute to the men who died.

[chengloki]

I didn't have a friend on the "Rueben James". I had 100 brothers. When we die at sea, we cannot go home. The sea is our home. =Stefan=

[IonOtter]

FFG-57 "Back With A Vengance!" 1996-2001. Best five years of my life.

[bigjknee]

good video

[Wwyzzard]

Woody Guthrie originally wanted to include in the song the names of all those who died. But Pete Seeger and the rest of the Almanac Singers persuaded him that this would make the song much too long, and boring to most. So they settled on the chorus "What were their names?" Thanks for giving us Woody's original vision for the song.

[bulbheadmyass]

This is a wonderful video, thanks for posting. Scrolling the names of the sailors is very touching.

[fanchbrezoneg]

Great song, thanks Woody Guthrie & Alvin P. Carter; amazing and glorious video RIP all. Nice performance by The Kingston Trio 2 (John Stewart, Bob Shane, Nick Reynolds).

[MuertoCorvidea]

has ne one heard or have this song by johnny horton

[leland0t0013]

Yes it is in his greatest hits album. I havent seen it on utbe yet

[feurzug]

My father was part of the escort aboard the DD246 Bainbridge and recalled this event. A guy off his ship was transferred to the R James two days before it was sunk because he was husltling everyone's paychecks on the Bainbridge in poker. My father complained and the man was sent to the R James and lost his life two days later. My dad felt a pinge of guilt over this. Well, there's some trivia for the ages.

[leland0t0013]

Did your father say what the ship was doing before the torpedo? I have read that the uboats had been detetected and located. Then the James either took up a blocking position too shield an ammunition ship at the convoy center or that she started to come about and charge down on the uboats ?

[arizonaranger]

May the Officers and Enlisted of the USS Reuben James(DD 245) R.I.P. - You have been avenged. - MYgSgt Michael T Mitchell - 1st Plt 2nd Tank Bat USMC near Ar Tik, Iraq

[chengloki]

The Army, Marines, and yes, the Air Force, always have a chance to be returned home. The Navy, when we go, will reside in the deep. Our ships will not be retrieved. When Sailors die in battle, they don't come home. They stay with their ship!!!And don't you dare, disturb them.=Stefan=

[Rikki0]

Well said, my friend. A sailor resting with his shipmates in his ship is a proper grave for a sailor who has fallen. Navys have always consigned their dead to the sea. It is where they fought and where they fell. Salute, Navy.

[Labaron26]

I had an Uncle who was a Marine on the Aircraft carrier "Bunker Hill" off the coast of Okinawa in WWII. He was killed when a Jap Kamaksie hit the ship..He was one who never came home...He was buried at sea....

[TitanicExplorer]

It's interesting how many songs were written in the early 20th century about earlier shipwrecks, such as the liners the Republic

(1909), the Titanic (1912) , the Empress of Ireland (1914) and the Lusitania (1915).

I like 'Jack Binns', the song about the wireless operator of the ill fated Republic.

[alderbaran1]

Wow. Very moving. Thanks for putting this together.

[Labaron26]

I believe that when Woody Guthrie wrote this song, he was referring to the fact that the Government was more concerned with the politics of the Sinking of an U.S. Warship, than they were of the 100 men who died...He was making reference that nobody knew or cared of the names of the men that died.....

[sensei48]

Supporting that is the fact that originally Guthrie wrote an individual line for each one of the 86 who died. To be fair, though, Guthrie's final verse (the one sung here was added later by Weaver Fred Hellerman):

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.

[TitanicExplorer]

would the style of this song be concidered folk, bluegrass or country?

With a banjo present, im guessing it's a bluegrass song....

[sensei48]

Well, this is a "modern" song written to an old folk tune, "Wildwood Flower." That song was an Appalachian"frailing" banjo number, but it's been done effectively by many bluegrass bands. THIS version, though,would today be called modern folk. The banjo style is a combination of picking and strumming, not at all the finger rolls you associate with bluegrass.

[chengloki]

May our Sailors rest in peace. =Stefan=

[Rikki0]

I do love this version. But I think my favorite was done by " The Highwaymen ". No, not Willie, Johnny, and Wayland. The original Highwaymen. But haven't seen in on UTube. Would love to, though.

[Rikki0]

Hmm..now that I have listened to this again I may have to rethink my position on which version is best.

[Monadnonck]

Great - always liked it, ...

[medicjm]

Thanks for taking the time to put that together.

[kzinti7]

may their souls reast peace

[gforce4all]

Great song!I kinda like the way chad mitchell did it though.