Standard Tuning No Capo                  Reworked by Ken Lee                                    
            / D5                 / A5                     / D5
Rueben / James in my / song you'll live a / gain, and
      / G5                   / D5
The / phrases that I / rhyme,
            / A5                   / D5
Are just / footsteps out-a / time,
           / G5               / D5             / A5   -    D5
From a / time when I / knew you / Rueben James.

            / D5                                                  / A5                          / D5
Rueben / James all the folks around Madison / County cussed your / name.
          / G5                                   / D5
Just a / no account share-cropper / colored man,
          / A5                      / D5
Who'd / steal anything he / can, and
G5                         / D5            / A5   -    D5
Everybody laid the / blame on / Rueben James.

            / G5                                                            / D5
Rueben / James you still walk the fertile fields of my / mind,
          / G5
Faded / shirt weathered brow,
               / D5
Calloused / hands upon the plow'
                / C5                                            / D5
Loved you / then and I love you now Rueben / James.

        / D5                                          / A5                     / D5
Flora / Graves the gossip of Madison / County died with / child, and
    / G5                              / D5
Al / though your skin was / black,
                    / A5                               / D5
You were the / one who didnt turn your / back,
        / G5                               / D5            / A5   -    D5
On a / hungry white child with / no name / Rueben James.

            / D5                                                        / A5                       / D5
Rueben / James with your mind on my soul and a / bible in your right, / and
              / G5                  / D5
You said / turn the other / cheek,
              / A5                                / D5
Theres a / better world waitin for the / meek,
         / G5                              / D5             / A5   -    D5
In my / mind these words re - / main from / Rueben James.


            / G5                                                           / D5
Rueben / James you still walk the fertile fields of my / mind,
          / G5
Faded / shirt weathered brow,
               / D5
Calloused / hands upon the plow'
                / C5                                            / D5
Loved you / then and I love you now Rueben / James.

            / E5                                              / B5                           / E5
Rueben / James one dark cloudy day they / brought you from the / field,and
            / A5                    / E5
To your / lonely pine box / came,
          / B5                           / E5
Just a / preacher me and the / rain,
     / A5                       / E5        / B5    -    E5
To / sing one last re - / frain for / Rueben James.

            / A5                                                            / D5
Rueben / James you still walk the fertile fields of my / mind,
          / A5
Faded / shirt weathered brow,
               / E5
Calloused / hands upon the plow'
                / D5                                            / E5
Loved you / then and I love you now Rueben / James.

Repeat Chorus and fade out.