Ruby
Ira Wolf Lyrics


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Ruby, she was made for going west
Didn't protest my wondering ways
Ruby, she was pretty as they come
28 years young and not afraid

She gave me shelter on the coldest nights
Shaded me on summer days
And I had never known my place before
But that's when ruby soon became

Ruby, she wasn't good at going fast
In the patience that I lacked I learned to grow
Cause ruby had a way of breaking down
Leaving me out there on the road

She gave me shelter on the coldest nights
Shaded me on summer days
So as we traveled across the country wide
Ruby set the pace

But ruby could be fickle and unfair
Good as I would get in times
Ruby, was the closes thing to home
I'll never know in this life

Ruby, hit that California sand
Slipped right through my hands eventually
Ruby I guess I knew it all the time
She was never mine to keep

She gave me shelter on the coldest nights
Shaded me on summer days
And nothing ever felt like home again
When ruby went away





And nothing ever felt like home since when
Ruby went away

Overall Meaning

The song "Ruby" by Ira Wolf tells the story of a woman named Ruby who was made for going west and traveling. She was pretty, young, and unafraid of going on adventures. The singer portrays Ruby as someone who gave him shelter on the coldest nights and shaded him on summer days, indicating that she was like a home to him. However, the song reveals that Ruby was not perfect as she had a way of breaking down, leaving him stranded on the road. She was the closest thing to home that the singer experienced, but he acknowledges that she was never really his to keep. The song ends on a melancholic note, with the singer feeling like nothing ever feels like home again since Ruby went away.


The lyrics of the song convey a sense of bittersweetness and nostalgia, showcasing the complex relationship between the singer and Ruby. The song explores themes of home, belonging, and the transient nature of relationships. The singer's attachment to Ruby acts as a metaphor for a deeper longing for a sense of place, and the idea that the people we encounter on our travels can become like homes to us.


Line by Line Meaning

Ruby, she was made for going west
Ruby was inclined to travel towards the west.


Didn't protest my wondering ways
Ruby didn't resist the author's wandering nature.


Ruby, she was pretty as they come
Ruby was stunningly beautiful.


28 years young and not afraid
Ruby was young and fearless at the age of 28.


She gave me shelter on the coldest nights
Ruby provided shelter in the chilliest nights.


Shaded me on summer days
Ruby shielded the author from the sun during hot summer days.


And I had never known my place before
The author had never felt at home before Ruby entered his life.


But that's when ruby soon became
Ruby became the author's home.


Ruby, she wasn't good at going fast
Ruby was not designed for high-speed traveling.


In the patience that I lacked I learned to grow
The author developed patience, which he previously lacked, while traveling with Ruby.


Cause ruby had a way of breaking down
Ruby often broke down, causing interruptions in the author's travels.


Leaving me out there on the road
The author was stranded on the road when Ruby broke down.


So as we traveled across the country wide
The author and Ruby traveled across the wide country.


Ruby set the pace
Ruby determined the speed of the travel.


But ruby could be fickle and unfair
Ruby could be unpredictable and unjust.


Good as I would get in times
Regardless of the author's efforts, Ruby remained capricious.


Ruby, was the closest thing to home
Ruby was the author's closest resemblance to a permanent residence.


I'll never know in this life
The author will never experience anything quite like Ruby again.


Ruby, hit that California sand
Ruby arrived on the California coast.


Slipped right through my hands eventually
The author lost Ruby when he least expected it.


Ruby I guess I knew it all the time
The author had anticipated the loss of Ruby all along.


She was never mine to keep
Ruby was never meant to be kept by the author.


And nothing ever felt like home again
After Ruby's departure, the author never felt quite at home again.


When ruby went away
The author's sense of home vanished when Ruby left.




Writer(s): Jessica Lynn Mullikin

Contributed by Zachary N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@1o1s1s1i1e

I'll be showing this video to my Granddaughter for life is an adventure and at 12 years old she needs to know the possibilities. Thank you, Grandpa Ossie

@cezarybanez5832

travelling to unknown places, in a van/home, and write and write and write is the life I've been dreaming about 💖 what a life you're living in girl wth .
I'm in Love with your music btw. keep making ✨

@BluePenguin-in-a-penguin-world

Beautiful! You definitely need more recognition.

@joelraguindin3398

when the lyrics draw you into it the song you know you have something great going on~Awesome🎼

@andrewwright4971

This song is beyond AWESOME! Your songs are beautiful! And I hope you keep that vehicle forever!

@FluffyMousse

I love your music , Ira ! Thank you for this beautiful song and video ;]

@jordanorozco9187

I don't know how much I love this song!

@znovosad555

I came across your music on a random playlist and cany stop listening to it. Music like this is my inspiration for adventure. My ispiration to travel and see the country out on the road

@bjc8653

I saw Ira Wolf perform when she traveled through Rhinelander, Wisconsin. Loved it so I bought her CD. It's one of my favorites to play in the car.

@nevermindmeify

This song hit very close to home. I'm living in my van in norway and i really love my old beast, she is a ford transit from 94 so i don't know how long she will last but I'm treasuring every day i get to live independently ♥️

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