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 That would 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 loved 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 awaitin' for the meek." In my mind these words remain from Reuben James [Reff] [Key up half step] Reuben James One dark cloudy day they brought you from the field And to your lonely pinebox came And just a preacher and me in the rain Just to sing one last refrain for Reuben James