You have painted up your lips
Rolled and curled your tinted hair
Ruby are you contemplating
Going out somewhere?
The shadows on the wall
Tell me the sun is going down
Ruby don't take your love to town.
Oh, it wasn't me that started
That old crazy Asian war
But I was proud to go
And do my patriotic chores.
And yes I know that I
Am not the man I used to be
Ruby I still need your company.
It's hard to love a man
Whose legs are bent and paralized
And the wants and the needs of a woman your age
Ruby I realize.
But it won't be long I've heard them say
Until I'm not around
Ruby don't take your love to town.
She's leaving now 'cause I just heard
The slamming of a door
The way I know I've heard it slam
A hundred times before
And if I could I'd get my gun
And put her in the ground
(Ruby) don't take your love to town.