Reuben James

                                  Reuben James

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



Reuben James, for you still walk the furthest field of my mind

Faded shirt, your weathered brow

Your caloused 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

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 the soul

And a bottle 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



Reuben James one dark cloudy day they brought you from the field

Until your lonely pinebox came 

or Unto your lonely pinebox came

Just a preacher of me in the rain

Just to sing one last refrain for Reuben James