Rueben James Paroles

You're just a no account, sharecropping colored man
Who would steal anything he can
And everybody laid the blame on Rueben James

Rueben James, you still walk the furrowed field of my mind
A faded shirt, the weathered brow, the callused hands upon the plow
I loved you then and I love you now Rueben James

Flora Graves, the gossiper of Madison County died with child
Although your skin was black
You were the one that didn’t turn your back
On the hungry white child with no name, Rueben James

Rueben 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 Rueben James

Rueben James, you still walk the furrowed field of my mind They brought you from the field
Until your lonely pine box came
just a preacher, me and the rain
Just to sing one last refrain for Rueben James

Rueben James, You still walk the furrowed field of my mind
A faded shirt, the weathered brow, the callused hands upon the plow
I loved you then and I love you now Rueben James

Rueben James, you still walk the furrowed field of my mind
A faded shirt, the weathered brow, the callused hands upon the plow
I loved you then and I love you now Rueben James