Reuben James
In my song you 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
You're just a no-account, sharecropping colored man
Who'd steal anything he can
And everybody laid the blame on Reuben James
CHORUS:
Reuben James,
You still walk the fertile fields of my mind
The faded shirt, the weathered brow
The calloused hands upon the plow
I loved you then and I love you now, Reuben James
Flora Grey,
The gossiper of Madison County died with child
And 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 my soul and a Bible in your right hand
You said turn the other cheek
For there's a better world awaiting for the meek
In my mind these words remain from Reuben James
[CHORUS]
[Music goes up a half step in the upcoming last verse]
Reuben James
One dark cloudy day they brought you from the field
And to your lonely pinebox came
Just a preacher and me in the rain
Just to sing one last refrain for Reuben James
[CHORUS]
In my song you 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
You're just a no-account, sharecropping colored man
Who'd steal anything he can
And everybody laid the blame on Reuben James
CHORUS:
Reuben James,
You still walk the fertile fields of my mind
The faded shirt, the weathered brow
The calloused hands upon the plow
I loved you then and I love you now, Reuben James
Flora Grey,
The gossiper of Madison County died with child
And 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 my soul and a Bible in your right hand
You said turn the other cheek
For there's a better world awaiting for the meek
In my mind these words remain from Reuben James
[CHORUS]
[Music goes up a half step in the upcoming last verse]
Reuben James
One dark cloudy day they brought you from the field
And to your lonely pinebox came
Just a preacher and me in the rain
Just to sing one last refrain for Reuben James
[CHORUS]