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 into 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 have been 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 because I just heard the slamming of the door The way I know I've heard it slammed 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 sakes turn around For God's sakes turn around