Rueben () James in my () song youll live a () gain And the () phrases that I  () rhyme Are just the () footsteps out-a  () time From a  () time when I () knew () Rueben  () James Rueben () James all the folks around Madison () County cussed your () name Just a () no account share-croppin () colored man Who () steal anything he () can And  () everybody laid the () blame on () Rueben () James     Rueben () James you still walk the fertile fields of my  () mind     Faded () shirt weathered brow       Callused () hands upon the plow     I loved you () then and I love you now Rueben () James Flora () Graves the gossip of Madison () County died with () child And al () though your skin was () black You were the () one who didnt turn your () back On a () 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 Theres a () better world waitin for the () meek In my () mind these words re () main from () Rueben () James     Rueben () James you still walk the fertile fields of my  () mind     Faded () shirt weathered brow       Callused () hands upon the plow     I 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 To () sing one last re () frain for () Rueben () James     Rueben () James you still walk the fertile fields of my  () mind     Faded () shirt weathered brow       Callused () hands upon the plow     I loved you () then and I love you now Rueben () James Repeat Chorus and fade out.