You've painted
up your lips
and 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
Oh Ruby,
don't take your love
to town
It wasn't me who started
that old crazy Asian war
But I was proud to go
and do my patriotic chore
And yes I know it's true
I'm not the man
I used to be
Oh Ruby,
I still need some company
It's hard to love a man
who's legs are bent
and paralysed
And the wants
and the needs
of a woman your age
oh, Ruby, I realise
It won't be long,
I've heard them say,
until I'm not around
Oh Ruby,
don't take your love
to town
She's leaving now 'cos
I've just heard
the slamming
of the door
The way I know I've heard
it slam one hundred
times before
And if I could move
I'd take my gun
and put her in the ground
Oh Ruby
don't take your love
to town
Oh Ruby
for Gods sake,
turn around