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
Reuben James,
All the folks around
Madison County
Cussed your name
Just a noaccount
Sharecroppin'
Colored man
Who'd steal
Anything he can
And everybody
Laid the blame
On Reuben James
Reuben James,
Will you still walk
The fertile fields
Of my mind?
Faded shirt,
Weathered brow,
Calloused hands
Upon the plow
I loved you then
And I love you now,
Reuben James
Flora Grey,
The gossip of
Madison County
Died with child
Although your skin
Was black,
You were the one that
Didn't turn your back
On the hungry
White child
With no name,
Reuben James
Reuben James,
With your mind on
The soul, and a bible
In your right hand
You said,
''Turn the other cheek,
Well, there's
A better word
Waitin' for the meek''
In my mind
These words remain,
From Reuben James
Reuben James,
Will you still walk
The fertile fields
Of my mind?
Faded shirt,
Weathered brow,
Calloused hands
Upon the plow
I loved you then
And I love you now,
Reuben James
Reuben James,
One dark cloudy day
They brought you
From the field
Until your lonely
Pine box came,
Just a preacher
And me in the rain
Just to sing
One last refrain
For Reuben James
Reuben James,
Will you still walk
The fertile fields
Of my mind?
Faded shirt,
Weathered brow,
Calloused hands
Upon the plow
I loved you then
And I love you now,
Reuben James
Reuben James,
Will you still walk
The fertile fields
Of my mind?
Faded shirt,
Weathered brow,
Calloused hands
Upon the plow
I loved you then
And I love you now,
Reuben James...