D           A7                D
Rueben James in my song youll live a gain
        G              D
And the phrases that I rhyme
             A7              D
Are just the footsteps out-a time
       G           D    A7     D
From a time when I knew Rueben James

       D                                  A7                 D
Rueben James all the folks around Madison County cussed your name
       G                        D
Just a no account share-croppin colored man
    A7                D
Who steal anything he can
    G                  D        A7     D
And everybody laid the blame on Rueben James

       G                                             D
Rueben James you still walk the fertile fields of my mind
      G
Faded shirt weathered brow
         D
Callused hands upon the plow
            C                              D
I loved you then and I love you now Rueben James

      D                            A7               D
Flora Graves the gossip of Madison County died with child
       G                    D
And al though your skin was black
             A7                      D
You were the one who didnt turn your back
     G                       D       A7     D
On a hungry white child with no name Rueben James

       D                                     A7                  D
Rueben James with your mind on my soul and a bible in your right
hand
         G              D
You said turn the other cheek
         A7                          D
Theres a better world waitin for the meek
      G                   D         A7     D
In my mind these words re main from Rueben James

       G                                             D
Rueben James you still walk the fertile fields of my mind
      G
Faded shirt weathered brow
         D
Callused hands upon the plow
            C                              D
I loved you then and I love you now Rueben James

       E                              B7                   E
Rueben James one dark cloudy day they brought you from the field
            A               E
And to your lonely pine box came
       B7                  E
Just a preacher me and the rain
   A                E         B7     E
To sing one last re frain for Rueben James

       A                                             E
Rueben James you still walk the fertile fields of my mind
      A
Faded shirt weathered brow
         E
Callused hands upon the plow
            D                              E
I loved you then and I love you now Rueben James