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 tell me the sun is going down Oh, Ruby, don't take your love to town It wasn't me that 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 needs of a woman your age, really, 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 heard its slams 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