Reuben James (Kenny Rogers)

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