You painted up your lips, and nails, and curled your tinted hair
Ruby, are you contemplating going out some where?
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 who started that old crazy Asian war,
But I was proud to go and do my patriotic choir
And yes, it's true that I am 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 a 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 sake turn around