Reuben James, in my song you live again And the phrases that I rhyme Are just footsteps out of time From the time when I first knew you Reuben James Reuben James all the folks around Madison County Cursed your name Just a no-account share-croppin' colored man Who would steal anything he can And they always laid the blame on Reuben James Reuben James, you still walk the furrowed fields of my mind The faded shirt, the weathered brow The calloused hand upon the plough I loved you then and I love you now Reuben James Flora Gray, the gossip of Madison County died with a child And although your skin was black It was you that didn't turn your back On a hungry white child with no name, Reuben James Reuben James, with your mind on my soul And the Bible in your right hand You said turn the other cheek A better world is a-waiting for the meek In my head those words remain from Reuben James Reuben James, you still walk the furrowed fields of my mind The faded shirt, the weathered brow The calloused hand upon the plough I loved you then and I love you now Reuben James Reuben James one dark cloudy day They brought you from the fields And to your lonely pine box came Just a preacher, me and the rain To sing one last refrain for Reuben James Reuben James, you still walk the furrowed fields of my mind The faded shirt, the weathered brow The calloused hand upon the plough I loved you then and I love you now Reuben James
Reuben James, in my song you live again And the phrases that I rhyme Are just footsteps out of time From the time when I first knew you Reuben James Reuben James all the folks around Madison County Cursed your name Just a no-account share-croppin' colored man Who would steal anything he can And they always laid the blame on Reuben James Reuben James, you still walk the furrowed fields of my mind The faded shirt, the weathered brow The calloused hand upon the plough I loved you then and I love you now Reuben James Flora Gray, the gossip of Madison County died with a child And although your skin was black It was you that didn't turn your back On a hungry white child with no name, Reuben James Reuben James, with your mind on my soul And the Bible in your right hand You said turn the other cheek A better world is a-waiting for the meek In my head those words remain from Reuben James Reuben James, you still walk the furrowed fields of my mind The faded shirt, the weathered brow The calloused hand upon the plough I loved you then and I love you now Reuben James Reuben James one dark cloudy day They brought you from the fields And to your lonely pine box came Just a preacher, me and the rain To sing one last refrain for Reuben James Reuben James, you still walk the furrowed fields of my mind The faded shirt, the weathered brow The calloused hand upon the plough I loved you then and I love you now Reuben James
