Lyrics:

Reuben James
In my song you live again
And the phrase that I rhyme
Are just a footstep out of time
From the time when I knew you
Reuben James
Reuben James, all the folks around Hadison County
Cussed your name
You're just a no-count, sharecropping colored man
You'd steal anything you can
And everybody laid the blame on Reuben James
Reuben James, for you still walk
Over fields of my mind
Faded shirt, weathered brow
Colored hands upon the plow
Loved you then and I love you now

Reuben James
For a grave
The gossiper of Hadison County died with chide
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
And to your lonely crambox
Came just a preacher
Me and the rain
Just to sing one last refrain to Reuben James