Reuben James - Scott Walker

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 first knew you Reuben James

Reuben James all the folks around Madison County

Cursed your name

Just a no-account share-croppin' colored man

Who would steal anything he can

And they always laid the blame on Reuben James

Reuben James, you still walk the furrowed fields of my mind

The faded shirt, the weathered brow

The calloused hand upon the plough

I loved you then and I love you now Reuben James

Flora Gray, the gossip of Madison County died with a child

And although your skin was black

It was you that didn’t turn your back

On a hungry white child with no name, Reuben James

Reuben James, with your mind on my soul

And the Bible in your right hand

You said turn the other cheek

A better world is a-waiting for the meek

In my head those words remain from Reuben James

Reuben James, you still walk the furrowed fields of my mind

The faded shirt, the weathered brow

The calloused hand upon the plough

I loved you then and I love you now Reuben James

Reuben James one dark cloudy day

They brought you from the fields

And to your lonely pine box came

Just 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

The faded shirt, the weathered brow

The calloused hand upon the plough

I loved you then and I love you now Reuben James