Lyrics:

Reuben James in my song you live again
And the phrases 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 Madison County cursed 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, you still walk over fields of my mind
Faded shirt, the weathered brow
The calloused hands upon the plow
I loved you then and I love you now Reuben James

For a grave the gossiper of Madison County died with chide
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 there's a better world awaiting for the meek
In my mind these words remain from Reuben James

Reuben James, you still walk over fields of my mind
Faded shirt, the weathered brow
The calloused hands upon the plow
I loved you then and I love you now Reuben James

Reuben James one dark cloudy day they brought you from the field
And to your lonely pine box came
Just a preacher me and the rain
Just to sing one last refrain to Reuben James

Reuben James, you still walk over fields of my mind
Faded shirt, the weathered brow
The calloused hands upon the plow
I loved you then and I love you now Reuben James

Reuben James, you still walk over fields of my mind
Faded shirt, the weathered brow
The calloused hands upon the plow
I loved you then and I love you now Reuben James