Ruby Don't Take Your Love To Town
Leonard Nimoy & William Shatner Lyrics
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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
Oh, Ruby, I still need some company
It's hard to love a man whose legs are bent and paralysed
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 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 slam some 100 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
and go back home
The song Ruby Don't Take Your Love To Town, written by Mel Tillis, tells the story of a disabled war veteran named Johnny who is pleading with his wife Ruby not to leave him behind to go out on the town with another man. The song brings to light the struggles that many war veterans face upon their return home, as well as highlighting the difficulties of maintaining a romantic relationship in the face of physical and emotional trauma.
The first verse paints a picture of Ruby preparing herself to go out on the town, with Johnny observing her from the shadows. The mention of the sun going down serves as a metaphor for the decline of their relationship. In the second verse, Johnny acknowledges that he is no longer the same man he used to be due to his injuries and disabilities from the war, but he still desires companionship. He then laments the difficulty of a woman like Ruby wanting to be with a man who is unable to physically provide for her. The final verse sees Johnny realizing that Ruby has left him, and his anger and frustration towards his situation bubble to the surface. His desperate plea to Ruby to turn around and go back home speaks to his deep-seated fear of being left behind and forgotten.
Line by Line Meaning
You've painted up your lips
You have applied lipstick to your lips
And rolled and curled your tinted hair
You have styled your colored hair with curls
Ruby are you contemplating going out somewhere
Are you thinking of going out somewhere, Ruby?
The shadow on the wall tells me the sun is going down
The shadow on the wall indicates that the sun is setting
Oh Ruby, don't take your love to town
Please don't go out and cheat on me, Ruby
It wasn't me that started that old crazy Asian war
I did not start the Asian war which has already happened
But I was proud to go and do my patriotic chore
However, I was proud to complete my duties for my country
And yes, it's true that I'm not the man I used to be
It is true that I am not the same man I was in the past
Oh, Ruby, I still need some company
Ruby, I still need your companionship
It's hard to love a man whose legs are bent and paralysed
It is difficult to love a man who has bent and paralyzed legs
And the wants and the needs of a woman your age,
Additionally, a woman of your age has different desires and necessities
Ruby I realize,
I am aware of this, Ruby
But it won't be long I've heard them say until I not around
I have heard that I will not be around for much longer
Oh Ruby, don't take your love to town
Please don't cheat on me while I'm still here, Ruby
She's leaving now
She is leaving at this moment
'Cause I just heard the slamming of the door
Because I have just heard the sound of the door slamming
The way I know I've heard it slam some 100 times before
I can tell because I have heard the same sound hundreds of times before
And if I could move I'd get my gun and put her in the ground
If I weren't paralyzed, I would take my gun and kill her
Oh Ruby, don't take your love to town
Please don't cheat on me, Ruby
Oh Ruby
Oh Ruby
For God's sake turn around
Please, for God's sake, turn around and come back to me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MEL TILLIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind