You've painted up your lips
and rolled and curled
your tinted hair
Ruby
Are you contemplating
going out somewhere
The shadow on the wall
tells me the sun is goin' down
Oh Ruby
Don't take your love to town
It wasn't me that started
that old crazy Asian war
But I was proud to go
and do my patriotic chore
And yes it's true that
I'm not the man I used to be
Oh Ruby
I still need some company
It's hard to love a man
whose legs
are bent and paralyzed
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
Oh Ruby
Don't take your love to town
She's leavin' now
'Cause I just heard
the slammin' of the door
The way I know
I've heard it slammed
one hundred times before
And if I could move
I'd get my gun
and put her in the ground
Oh Ruby
Don't take your love to town
Oh Ruby
For God's sakes turn around