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