You have painted up your lips
And rolled and curled your tinted hair
Ruby, are you contemplating
Going out somewhere?
Well, the shadows on the wall tell me
That the sun is going down
Well, I say, Ruby
Ruby, Ruby
Don't take your love to town
Well, it is 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 ain't around
Well, I say, Ruby
Ruby, Ruby
Honey, don't take your love to town
Well, it wasn't me that started that
Old crazy Asian war
But I was proud to go and do
My patriotic chore
And I know, Ruby
That I'm not the man
I'm supposed to be
Well, I say, Ruby
Ruby, Ruby
I still need your company
She is leaving now cause I 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 get my gun
And I'd put her under the ground
Well, I say, Ruby
Ruby, Ruby
I say, Ruby
Ruby, Ruby
I say, I say, Ruby
Ruby, Ruby
Don't take your love to town