You have 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 goin' down
Oh Ruby, don't take your love to town.

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

For it wasn't me that started that old crazy Asian war
But I was proud to go and do my patriotic chores
Oh, I know Ruby that I'm not the man I used to be
But Ruby, I still need your company.

And she's leaving now 'cause I've just heard the slamming of the door
The way I know I've heard it slam one hundred times before
If I could move I'd get my gun and put her in the ground
Oh Ruby, don't take your love to town, don't take your love to town