Reuben James Lyrics

Reuben James by Kenny Rogers
From Kenny Rogers and the First Edition 1977
Original Key is E
Intro E
Reuben James
In my song you'll live again
And the phrases that I rhyme
Are just footsteps outta time
From a time when I knew you, Reuben James
Reuben James,
All the folks around Madison County cussed your name
Just a no account share-cropper coloured man
Who'd steal anything he can
And everybody laid the blame on Reuben James
Reuben James
You still walk the fertile fields of my mind
The faded shirt, the weathered brow
The calloused hands upon the plough
Loved you then and I love you now, Reuben James
Flora Graves,
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 a hungry white child with no name, Reuben James
Reuben James,
With your mind on my soul and a bible in your right hand
And you said turn the other cheek
There's a better world waitin' for the meek
In my mind these words remain from Reuben James
Repeat chorus
Reuben James
You still walk the fertile fields of my mind
The faded shirt, the weathered brow
The calloused hands upon the plough
Loved you then and I love you now, Reuben James
Third verse key change F
(if you can swing it, otherwise keep in key of E)
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
To sing one last refrain for Reuben James
Chorus x 2
Reuben James
You still walk the fertile fields of my mind
The faded shirt, the weathered brow
The calloused hands upon the plough
Loved you then and I love you now, Reuben James
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