Wanda Jackson — Reuben James

Reuben James, in my song, you live again And the phrases that I rhyme are just footsteps out of time From the time when I knew you, Reuben James Reuben James, all the folks around Madison County Cussed your name Just a no-count sharecroppin' black man Who'd steal anything that he can And everybody laid the blame on Reuben James Reuben James, you still walk the furrowed fields of my mind Faded shirt, weathered brow, calloused hands upon the plow I loved you then and I love you now, Reuben James Flora Gray, the gossip of Madison County died with child And although your skin was black You were the one who 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 There's a better world waitin' for me In my mind, these words remain from Reuben James Reuben James, you still walk the furrowed fields of my mind Faded shirt, weathered brow, 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 To your lonely pinebox came a preacher, me, and the rain To sing one last refrain for Reuben James Reuben James, you still walk the furrowed fields of my mind Faded shirt, weathered brow, calloused hands upon the plow I loved you then and I love you now, Reuben James Reuben James, you still walk the furrowed fields of my mind Faded shirt, weathered brow, calloused hands upon the plow I loved you then and I love you now, Reuben James