Ruben James (Re-Recorded) - Kenny Rogers

Rueben James, in my song you live again

And the phrase that I rhyme

Are just the footstep out of time

From the time when I knew you, Rueben James

Rueben 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 Rueben James

Rueben James, for still walk over fields of my mind

Faded shirt, weathered brow

Call used hands upon the plow

Loved you then and I love you now, Rueben James

Flora Graves the gossiper of Hadison County

Died with child although your skin was black

You were the one that didn’t turn your back

On the hungry white child with no name, Rueben James

Rueben James, with your mind on my soul

And a bible 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 Rueben James

Rueben James, for still walk over fields of my mind

Faded shirt, weathered brow

Callused hands upon the plow

Loved you then and I love you now, Rueben James

Rueben 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

Just to sing one last refrain to Rueben James

Rueben James, for still walk over fields of my mind

Faded shirt, weathered brow

Callused hands upon the plow

Loved you then and I love you now Rueben James

Rueben James, for still walk over fields of my mind

Faded shirt, weathered brow

Callused hands upon the plow

Loved you then and I love you now Rueben James