you 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 ist 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 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, for god's sake ... turn around