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 this whole crazy Asian war But I was proud to go and do my patriotic chore 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 100 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 sakes turn around