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