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 going down.
Oh Ruby, don't take your love to town.

It wasn't me that started that ol' 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 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 put her in the ground.
Oh Ruby, don't take your love to town.

Oh Ruby, God sakes turn around....