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 ruby don t take your love to town it wasn t me who started that old crazy asian war but i was proud to go and do my patriotic chores yes it s true i m not the man i used to be but ruby i still need your company it s hard to love a man whose legs are bent and paralized 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 ruby don t take your love to town she s leaving now cause i ve 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 get my gun and put her in the ground ruby don t take your love to town oh ruby don t take your love to town for god sakes turn around