Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town
by Mel Tillis (1967) [also performed by Johnny Darrell, Kenny
Rogers, Waylon Jennings, Roger Miller, Statler Brothers, et al;
re: as neighbors of the author, this incidence of murder-suicide
of a disabled vet and his nurse wife was rearranged from World
War Two to the Korean War ... not the Vietnam War, despite its
date of release]
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 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 slamming
Some 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
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