Reuben James

Reuben James in my song

You'll live again

And the phrases that I rhyme

Are just the footsteps out of time



From the time when I knew you

Reuben James

Hey, Reuben James all the folks around

Madison County cussed your name



Just a no count of colored man

Who'd steal anything that he can

And they always laid the blame

On Reuben James



Hey, Reuben James you still walk

The furrowed fields of my mind

The faded shirt, the wrinkled brow

The calloused hand upon the plow



I loved you then

And I love you now Reuben James



Hey, Flora Gray, well, the gossip

Of Madison County died with the child

And although your skin was black

You were the one who didn't turn your back



On a hungry white child

With no name Reuben James

Hey, Reuben James with your mind on my soul

And Bible in your right hand



You said turn the other cheek

There's a better world waitin' for the meek

In my head those words remain

From Reuben James



Hey, Reuben James you still walk

The furrowed fields of my mind

The faded shirt, the wrinkled brow

The calloused hand upon the plow



I loved you then

And I love you now Reuben James



Oh, Reuben James one cold dark day

They brought you from the fields

And that lonely pine box came

Just a preacher me and the rain

To sing one last refrain for Reuben James



Oh, Reuben James you still walk

The furrowed fields of my mind

The faded shirt, the wrinkled brow

The calloused hand upon the plow



I loved you then

And I love you now Reuben James