You've painted up your lips and rolled and curled your tinted hair   Ruby, are you contemplating going out somewhere?   The shadows on the wall tell me the sun is going down   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 it's true I'm not the man, ruby, that I used to be   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 leavin' 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   Ruby, don't take your love to town      For God's sake turn around   Don't take your love to town